Dr. Golem: How to Think about Medicine

Dr.Golemexploressomeofthemysteriesandcomplexitiesofmedicinewhileuntanglingtheinherentconundrumsofscientificresearchandhighlightingitsvagaries.Ineightchaptersdevotedtocasestudiesofmodernmedicine,HarryCollinsandTrevorPinchconsidertheprevalenceoftonsillectomies,theplaceboeffectandrandomizedcontroltrials,bogusdoctors,CPR,theefficacyofvitaminCinfightingcancer,chronicfatiguesyndrome,AIDScures,andvaccination.Throughout,CollinsandPinchremindreadersthatmedicalscienceisaneconomicaswellasasocialconsideration,encapsulatedfortheauthorsinthetimelessstruggletobalancethegoodhealthofthemanywiththegoodhealthofafew.Dr.Golemisatimelyanalysisofthelimitationsofmedicinethatneverlosessightofitsstrengths.