A Brief History of Bad Medicine

by Dr Robert M. Youngson, Robert Youngston

A doctor removes the normal, healthy side of a patient's brain instead of the malignant tumor. A man whose leg is scheduled for amputation wakes up to find his healthy leg removed. These recent examples are part of a history of medical disasters and embarrassments as old as the profession itself. In Brief History of Bad Medicine, Robert M. Youngson and Ian Schott have written the definitive account of medical mishap in modern and not-so- modern times. From famous quacks to curious forms of sexual healing, from blunders with the brain to drugs worse than the diseases they are intended to treat, the book reveals shamefully dangerous doctors, human guinea pigs, and the legendary surgeon who was himself a craven morphine addict. Exploring the line between the comical and the tragic, the honest mistake and the intentional crime, Brief History of Bad Medicine illustrates once and for all that you can't always trust the people in white coats.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Medicine, Health, Historical, History

418 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up in the bargain section of Chapters for $7, and I am glad I did not spend more than that. While much of the subject matter is interesting, the books chapters (grouped by topic, i.e. dangerous doctors or drugs) jump around chronologically in a way that is often jarring and the subsections are very inconsistent. There are grammatical errors, and odd stylistic choices in the writing. Also, many of the topics included in this history of "bad medicine" are not actually "bad," but simply the best the doctors of the time could do. Others are certainly terrible, of course, but again, the book is very inconsistent. I also found some sections were long and rambling, while others were not detailed enough or ended abruptly. Overall, interesting subject matter, not great execution.

[Micaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like it. It is entertainingly written and has a lot of interesting history in it. Unfortunately, with regards to some of the more recent medical blunders, it is woefully outdated. It was published in 1996, in Britain, and medical science has grown exponentially since then. Some of the terminology is antiquated (the authors describe lupus as a "tuberculosis of the skin," whatever that means. It's certainly not what lupus is). Some of the advances advocated in the book are currently contested (vitamin C is out of vogue again amongst scientists). Further blunders have happened in medicine that would have made great additions (such as pain as the fifth vital sign and the subsequent opioid epidemic). American medicine has certainly changed.

Additionally, I must criticize the book as a scholarly work of history: although the authors do take pains to present their historical cases clearly, they do not include the citations necessary to take this from a book of popular history to something more academic. Not even a source list.

So, a fun read, but take it with a grain of salt.

[Michaela Fedoruk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read, some things are a bit outdated, others are completely ridiculous (but what can you expect for old medicine). Jumps around year to year instead of chronologically. Some chapters are sickening to read. Mostly factually told in a neutral sense, but the authors occasionally give their opinions on topics and it's quite amusing. Can neither recommend or not, you'll either enjoy it or find it terribly dull.

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

An excellent example of what a 'brief history' should be, in my view - a mixture of Wikipedia and page-turner. Certainly not without value in the information age.

Authorial intent regarding the 'transsexual' chapter is blurry - in a book of 'bad medicine', I'm not sure why a single account of gender reassignment surgery that seems to go perfectly well for the patient and make them a happier person is presented -- am I supposed to feel the same horror as I do for the lobotomized? This was written in the late 90s, so I guess the authors were just being edgy and wrote something progressive by mistake.

Other than that chapter, I enjoyed the megalomania on display thoroughly. A good light read about death and decay.

[Jeff Powers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative and entertaining. A few articles feel a bit dated but others are just as prescient as ever. The chapter on transgender healthcare is painfully out of date and rather insensitively written, but skipping that, the rest of the book is quite an enjoyable overview of many of the missteps of medicine. For a better take on many similar stories, I would recommend the Sawbones podcast book. But not a terrible addition to my growing "Brief History" library.

[Enamuko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, and definitely leaves you with some food for thought, but as other reviewers have mentioned it suffers from a lack of organization and numerous writing errors. It would be nice to see an updated edition of this book, possibly with an afterword covering more modern medical blunders.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched. Intensely interesting. Captivating. Loved it!

[Chris Parent · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amusing and enlightening work of popular history which also serves a cautionary function.

[Colette Bembenek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absorbing and riveting - non-fiction. I found it a page turner
because of how varied the subject matter was. The authors began back in
history and also sited specific cases and/or doctors who were notorius for
either discoveries or their damaging 'procedures i.e. lobotomies, etc.

There was nothing insignificant in the unfolding of information and one
is offered a 'present day' insight into current practices that hospitals and
doctors carry-out that I felt was vital for anyone to know. Some of the
facts were actually astounding and I related back to my personal experience
with medical intervention, uncovering why I encountered some negative
situations with hospital admissions.

Quite an over-view of the subject matter, with something for anyone
that is interested in past and present history of the medical profession.
Written engagely, unlike a textbook; this read is frank and holds the
reader's interest. Those who read relentlessly could most likely finish
this little gem of a book in a few days.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting