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Well Considered: A Handbook for Making Informed Medical Decisions
Prescriptions, over-the-counter meds, vaccines... it can be overwhelming to discern which medical products are right for you and your family. This book will come along side you no matter where you are in your life to help you make informed medical decisions. Sourced from .gov resources, the insights within these pages are for everyone from the parent trying to navigate childhood vaccination to the patient that just received a complicated medical diagnosis.
- GenresHealthVaccinesNonfiction
156 pages, ebook
Published July 12, 2024
45 people are currently reading
711 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
August 14, 2024
I have been interesting in vaccine inserts ever since I was informed about hormonal birth control and reading a few books that Alex Clark had recommended about vaccines! My first impression of the book was that every person, whether a soon to be parent, parents, aunts, uncle, doctors nurses or people considering going into the medical field should read this book.
Well Considered walks the reader through how to read an insert! Whether it be a vaccine or an over the counter medicine. I didn’t not realize how many items are on an insert or why things are put on the manufacturer insert and not the insert parents are supposed to be given. The book also walks through what true informed consent looks like. The part of the book that surprised me the most was the Vaccine Information Statement section. I think everyone should read this part!
The author’s reading style is like an easy read guide! I read the book in 121 minutes. I am an avid reader and I think this book would be easy for anyone to read! My husband isn’t a big reader, but I could imagine him reading it! You can also see the passion of the author through out the book. The author isn’t trying to “push” anything. She wants parents to be truly informed.
What I enjoyed most about the book was that Just the Inserts made this book because of her desire for people to be truly informed. She wants everyone to be able to read an inset for themselves and make an informed choice.
Well Considered walks the reader through how to read an insert! Whether it be a vaccine or an over the counter medicine. I didn’t not realize how many items are on an insert or why things are put on the manufacturer insert and not the insert parents are supposed to be given. The book also walks through what true informed consent looks like. The part of the book that surprised me the most was the Vaccine Information Statement section. I think everyone should read this part!
The author’s reading style is like an easy read guide! I read the book in 121 minutes. I am an avid reader and I think this book would be easy for anyone to read! My husband isn’t a big reader, but I could imagine him reading it! You can also see the passion of the author through out the book. The author isn’t trying to “push” anything. She wants parents to be truly informed.
What I enjoyed most about the book was that Just the Inserts made this book because of her desire for people to be truly informed. She wants everyone to be able to read an inset for themselves and make an informed choice.
May 4, 2025
Alexandra does a great job informing us normal people how to make common medical decisions. From how you intersect in the emergency room to every pediatrician visit for a child, she highlights key conversations to have, and how to be prepared BEFORE the rubber hits the road. She educates you on how to read vaccine inserts and OTC medicines. She gives you insight into how doctors can operate, the CDC, and the FDA. She dives into the realities and consequences of the 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, VAERS, VICP and so forth. These are things we SHOULD know but we have always blindly trusted the “science” and the doctors who claim to abide by it. Of course she is bias, but not in a right wing way. She is bias in that she gives you the information straight from CDC, FDA, NIH, and so on and uses their own words against them.
Overall, the purpose is education. She gives you the ability to research these things your self and uses trusted sources for every piece of information.
Overall, the purpose is education. She gives you the ability to research these things your self and uses trusted sources for every piece of information.
August 14, 2024
This is the book I wish I’d had sooner - as a mum of 3 young children who is responsible for not only my own health but my family’s too, it’s so helpful to have a factual, clear and well written book where everything is in one place. It contains useful information on how to read the inserts for pharmaceutical products to see if they are the right fit for you, it explains the meaning of informed consent and it has helpful tools such as pronunciation guide and glossary for those of us who aren’t medically trained.
I could go on about this book forever but I’ll just say that I 100% recommend it and you should have a read yourself
I could go on about this book forever but I’ll just say that I 100% recommend it and you should have a read yourself
August 14, 2024
Well-Considered is an exceptional book—and a must read for anyone looking to make well-informed medical decisions for themselves or their family!
Reading this book was like sitting down and talking to a friend—the information was presented in a simple, engaging way that makes an often confusing topic accessible to anyone and everyone. Full of thoughtful, thorough research, this book will not be disappoint.
Reading this book was like sitting down and talking to a friend—the information was presented in a simple, engaging way that makes an often confusing topic accessible to anyone and everyone. Full of thoughtful, thorough research, this book will not be disappoint.
August 14, 2024
This book has been meticulously researched, it is a fair and comprehensive critique that will help guide the reader towards making an informed decision, a right that I’d argue is all too often taken away. This book is long overdue for the many of us who have had questions and spent countless hours trying to seek out answers on our own. We now have answers and a resource to help others whom we care about. You came across it for a reason, keep following your intuition.
August 15, 2024
This book has so much valuable information! Every person should have this resource to help navigate the healthcare system and informed consent. The amount of detail and description on various topics is great! If you are looking for a book that is easy to follow/understand, even if you don’t have any healthcare background, this is it! You will walk away astounded at the knowledge you will gain! Highly recommended for everyone to have on their bookshelf!
August 15, 2024
What an amazing resource! I am so impressed at how thorough the author was in clearly explaining so many medical terms and how each individual can find this information for themselves. The logical flow of topics made it easy to follow and made for riveting reading. Every single person needs to read this book! When we are informed we are empowered, and that's what this book teaches us to be!
May 1, 2025
Great book to get to start learning about informed consent and advocating for yourself and your family. Highly recommend!
August 15, 2024
Just The Inserts was one of the first resources I came across when I began researching medical concerns/informed consent material. When I found out the creator was writing a book, I immediately signed up to receive an advanced copy of the e-book version, and pre-ordered the physical book. The information provided is the book is critical and extremely eye-opening. It is laid out in a manner that is user friendly and easy to understand. Citations are available so that readers can continue their research on their own in order to make their own informed decisions. It is so well written, filled with factual data straight from .gov websites, but it is presented without bias. Please please please order this book! Physical copies of material like this book are essential to have in this time!
January 10, 2026
Okay. So just my reading this book is going to make some people cringe. But here goes.
At some point in my life I got a job at a medical clinic. And I have stories that I can't tell unless you want to do lunch sometime. I also was responsible for about 50% of the informed consent given in the office. And the way the other employees, many of them young or veteran health workers, treated informed consent gave me pause. And so did a lot of other things---like the way people didn't know that death can be a rare side-effect of anesthesia. But it can be. Very rarely.
So I became passionate about true informed consent. And informed medical decisions. Because I saw too many people suffer from the consequences of uninformed ones (even one person suffering is one too many). And that's not to say that all suffering can be avoided---it can't. But seeing the whole picture, knowing what you're choosing between, can allow you to make a better decision.
This book, then. It has some good information. It won't be palatable to everyone. But let's examine another personal experience. A family member of mine was offered a medical product for a very real medical issue. About halfway through the treatment they developed a rash. I pulled up the insert and there it was. So, instead of going to the doctor to ask for something for the rash, they could then evaluate whether the rash was worth suffering through for the rest of the duration of the medicine, etc., etc.
I also think it's worth going through the fear exercise. Because I think that a lot of time we are like too many people I know who fear responsibility. They just want to push all of that to someone else. But, in reality, responsibility is a form of freedom.
That being said, the formatting wasn't my favorite. But I'm a formatting nerd. I do admire the way she thinks, though. Someday when I'm not sleep deprived I'll go back to thinking logically again.
At some point in my life I got a job at a medical clinic. And I have stories that I can't tell unless you want to do lunch sometime. I also was responsible for about 50% of the informed consent given in the office. And the way the other employees, many of them young or veteran health workers, treated informed consent gave me pause. And so did a lot of other things---like the way people didn't know that death can be a rare side-effect of anesthesia. But it can be. Very rarely.
So I became passionate about true informed consent. And informed medical decisions. Because I saw too many people suffer from the consequences of uninformed ones (even one person suffering is one too many). And that's not to say that all suffering can be avoided---it can't. But seeing the whole picture, knowing what you're choosing between, can allow you to make a better decision.
This book, then. It has some good information. It won't be palatable to everyone. But let's examine another personal experience. A family member of mine was offered a medical product for a very real medical issue. About halfway through the treatment they developed a rash. I pulled up the insert and there it was. So, instead of going to the doctor to ask for something for the rash, they could then evaluate whether the rash was worth suffering through for the rest of the duration of the medicine, etc., etc.
I also think it's worth going through the fear exercise. Because I think that a lot of time we are like too many people I know who fear responsibility. They just want to push all of that to someone else. But, in reality, responsibility is a form of freedom.
That being said, the formatting wasn't my favorite. But I'm a formatting nerd. I do admire the way she thinks, though. Someday when I'm not sleep deprived I'll go back to thinking logically again.
August 26, 2024
Put this book on your go-to list of things to get new parents as a baby shower or welcome baby gift! At a minimum, all new parents should read this, as well as anyone with current medical conditions.
Just the Inserts talks you through how to read medical inserts, from pharmaceuticals to vaccinations, to obtain information that you most likely would not receive from your medical team. She describes each section and where to find the most important details that allows you to make an educated and informed decision regarding your healthcare or healthcare for your family.
The book is very easy to read, and Just the Inserts has created this conversational tone within her book that makes it easy to steamroll through it (in a few hours)... even when you should pause and think about the things you have read because some of this material can be heavy (over a few days or weeks).
I wish a book like this existed when I was pregnant with my first child. Not only are there examples, but she also provides some insight from medical professionals who have reached out to her regarding specific topics. This book should also be required reading for all medical professionals, so they knew how to give the appropriate information for their patients to have true informed consent.
This book is a MUST READ! We have to take our health into our own hands, and we cannot leave it up to medical professionals because they make decisions that are not based on us as individuals or on a case by case basis. We are our own best advocates, and we have to understand how to obtain the information necessary to make well informed decisions for our health.
Well-Considered is your stepping stone to do just that!
Just the Inserts talks you through how to read medical inserts, from pharmaceuticals to vaccinations, to obtain information that you most likely would not receive from your medical team. She describes each section and where to find the most important details that allows you to make an educated and informed decision regarding your healthcare or healthcare for your family.
The book is very easy to read, and Just the Inserts has created this conversational tone within her book that makes it easy to steamroll through it (in a few hours)... even when you should pause and think about the things you have read because some of this material can be heavy (over a few days or weeks).
I wish a book like this existed when I was pregnant with my first child. Not only are there examples, but she also provides some insight from medical professionals who have reached out to her regarding specific topics. This book should also be required reading for all medical professionals, so they knew how to give the appropriate information for their patients to have true informed consent.
This book is a MUST READ! We have to take our health into our own hands, and we cannot leave it up to medical professionals because they make decisions that are not based on us as individuals or on a case by case basis. We are our own best advocates, and we have to understand how to obtain the information necessary to make well informed decisions for our health.
Well-Considered is your stepping stone to do just that!
August 16, 2024
After having children, especially after my 2nd born, I started looking more into the products I was putting into our bodies. Food labels, lotions, shampoos, body washes, and of course, pharmaceuticals. I experienced one incident with a pediatrician who gave my child an incorrect vaccination. They brushed it off like it was no big deal but my heart was broken and that's the moment I started looking more into what kind of stuff they were injecting my children with. This book makes it so incredibly easy to learn how to read inserts. How to start researching additional medicines and vaccines, all on my own. There were so many examples the author provided (and even more on their Instagram!). It breaks my heart that the medical industry doesn't want to listen to parents when they have concerns over what is being given to our tiny children. This book allows me to explain WHY (if I choose to) I may decline a product. And it has opened my eyes to how much the medical field really doesn't seem to know. YOU know YOUR body and YOUR child(ren) best. Get this book, learn!
August 23, 2024
I just wish this book had been available years ago before I had my kids vaccinated !! I have been following the author on Instagram for a few years and have always been impressed with her research/knowledge and couldn’t wait to read this book. For anyone intimidated by doctors or the medical profession this will be your bible, beautifully written and so easy to understand , once you start reading it you can’t put it down , everyone should read it, it will give you the confidence to question any medication/procedure that you are being offered. Knowledge really is power. What more can I say , loved it x
December 30, 2024
I thought this was a great resource. I’ve recommended it to all of my mama friends, my father who is being treated for cancer, and really anyone and everyone I talk to when medical conversations come up. It’s useful information no matter what stage of life you’re in. It’s vitally important we continue to educate ourselves. When it comes to our health, we are the stewards and our doctors and providers are our partners.. not our leaders.
Her information is virtually exclusively sourced from .gov websites and manufactures. You don’t have to trust her if you’re skeptical.. trust the resources and data.
Her information is virtually exclusively sourced from .gov websites and manufactures. You don’t have to trust her if you’re skeptical.. trust the resources and data.
August 15, 2024
The author breaks complex concepts into easy-to-digest terms backed by extensive research and facts. It’s an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to understand their right to informed consent in the medical world. It is brimming with well-researched information, and I appreciate the use of .gov websites as sources, which, for many, adds to its credibility.
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran of understanding informed consent or just embarking on your research journey, this book is designed to equip you to completely control your medical decisions.
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran of understanding informed consent or just embarking on your research journey, this book is designed to equip you to completely control your medical decisions.
August 20, 2024
I have followed Just the Inserts since it began. It is a resource that I have used personally as well as shared with all of my clients (doula and childbirth education class families) consistently. This book is a must-read for anyone to utilize for themselves and for their families. Everyone should have this information readily available. This book spelled out how to read and understand resources step-by-step in a basic and knowledgable manor. Looking forward to many more amazing resources for years to come!
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September 30, 2024This was a very practical guide on informed consent and making medical decisions for your family. The author provides detailed instructions on how to read and interpret manufacturer inserts on a variety of medical products so you can be truly informed before accepting, delaying or declining. Additionally, she provides helpful contextual and historical information regarding some medical policies today as well as productive and peaceable ways to have conversations with your medical providers about recommended products and treatment plans. A helpful handbook for anyone!
December 30, 2024
Amazing, and informative. We are always told to do research before making a big purchase. We’re also always told to do as the doctor says, and never question anything. It is so important to do your own research, and make an informed decision. This book gives you all the tools you’ll need to read and research every aspect of medication inserts so you can have an informative conversation with your health care provider. As a society, we are being told/taught what to think; this book will definitely teach you how to think!
January 20, 2025
everyone should read this book!
I learned a ton about drugs, vaccines, adverse reactions and so much more. I used to be someone who would probably accept all medical products no questions asked and recently I became more skeptical. I’m so thankful for this book because it has helped me figure out how (and where!) to do the research on my own, how to have conversations with providers and friends about informed consent, and be more empowered as a consumer in general. Can’t say enough good things about this book and its author!!
I learned a ton about drugs, vaccines, adverse reactions and so much more. I used to be someone who would probably accept all medical products no questions asked and recently I became more skeptical. I’m so thankful for this book because it has helped me figure out how (and where!) to do the research on my own, how to have conversations with providers and friends about informed consent, and be more empowered as a consumer in general. Can’t say enough good things about this book and its author!!
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May 29, 2025Informed consent is something that should be a given - but rarely is.
In “Well Considered”, Alexandra of Just the Inserts not only presents a well-reasoned explanation of what exactly informed consent truly means, she also explains why it’s imperative to ethical medical decisions. She then goes on to instruct the reader, with examples, on how to read a product/manufacturer insert. I’ve lived through consequences of being uninformed, and Alexandra truly takes the guesswork out of informing oneself.
Frankly, I believe everyone and their mothers should read this book. Full stop.
In “Well Considered”, Alexandra of Just the Inserts not only presents a well-reasoned explanation of what exactly informed consent truly means, she also explains why it’s imperative to ethical medical decisions. She then goes on to instruct the reader, with examples, on how to read a product/manufacturer insert. I’ve lived through consequences of being uninformed, and Alexandra truly takes the guesswork out of informing oneself.
Frankly, I believe everyone and their mothers should read this book. Full stop.
August 15, 2024
This book is a must read for anyone wanting to make informed medical decisions. Unfortunately, our medical professionals are not always well educated, nor do they advocate for us, so it's imperative they we learn to research and interpret the details on medications and vaccines for ourselves. This book is superbly written and cites all research. It is an excellent resource!
September 12, 2024
So thankful for a concise and easy-to-read start on a personal journey of making well-informed decisions, instead of succumbing to passivity. I appreciate the openness and candor of the author, and not feeling heavy pushed in one way or another. A great start to my education in this area! (Of course also a big fan of all of the breakdowns of different topics in her social media too!!)
August 14, 2024
Every household needs this book!! It's our right to have informed consent when it comes to anything medical going in or on our bodies. This book is the perfect instruction manual to equip you to make those informed and well considered decisions!
August 15, 2024
This book is for everyone! It is incredibly well-written, and obviously created with the general public in mind (not just those who are already familiar with medical jargon). I will continue to reference this book for many years to come.
September 28, 2024
This is an amazing book to help you feel knowledgeable, empowered, and CONFIDENT when making medical decisions for yourself and your family. I read it cover to cover in two sittings and have returned to it since. 11/1o recommend this book for everyone!!
February 9, 2026
This is an excellent resource for those just starting out on their questioning journey. She gives a ton of factual evidence and not just hearsay. This book is not for those who’ve already done their research and are looking for more of a deep dive. But for those just beginning it’s a must read!
September 2, 2024
This book is great resource for all people but especially parents. It is well researched and cited.
February 4, 2025
Every parent should have access to this as well as every medical professional. The author uses gov't websites, not logical fallacies. It's well written and well researched.
March 12, 2025
Very informative on how to make the right healthcare decisions for myself and my family.
August 25, 2025
This books makes something hard understandable. It is short and easy to read and gives you what you need to make an informed decision. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews