Medicine and Culture: Revised Edition

"Extremely illuminating . . . An enjoyable read." --New Scientist A classic comparative study of medicine and national culture, Medicine and Culture shows us that while doctors regard themselves as servants of science, they are often prisoners of custom. The United States, Germany, England, and France have equivalent life expectancy rates, yet medical treatment differs enormously from country to country. Medicine and Culture addresses questions such as: --What determines the difference between how French and American doctors interact with AIDS patients? --Why is low blood pressure considered a sign of health in the United States and sickness in Germany? --Why are hysterectomies, performed infrequently in France, one of the most common major operations in the United States? --Why do American doctors perform significantly more cardiac bypass operations than do English doctors? --and more . . .