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What Doctors Don't Get to Study in Medical School
This is not a textbook as the author says but, in my opinion, this is a "Holy Text" of medicine and is a must read for everyone who deals with sickness.
Richard Smith, MD, FRCP
Former Editor, British Medical Journal, London
Here, laid out clearly and concisely, are all the well-established potholes and pitfalls in current medical thinking and practice. It is a thought provoking challenge to modern medical practice and research. Dr Hegde confronts the issue, and proposes an alternative humanistic attitude to education and treatment. Drawing on a huge range of resources from Sanskrit texts, Green and European philosophers, ancient and modern healers, to the most up-to-date Western research and publications. He has written a book that is both scholarly yet easy to read, and which will appeal to everyone involved in medicine whether students, practitioners or patients.
Editor, Amazon.com
A great book from a great teacher and a must read for everyone.
Dr GB Jain, FRCPE, DTMH
Founder, Delhi College of Physicians and Surgeons, New Delhi
...What we have here is an overview of the entire system of medical care, seen through the wisdom of a man who cares. This book should be prescribed as must reading for those aiming to be future physicians and surgeons. Plainly, it is impossible to over-rate this magnificent contribution to the science of healing.
MV Kamath
Chairman, Prasaara Bharati, New Delhi
It is a fascinating book distilling the author's philosophy of life and medicine after many years of professional experience as a senior Cardiologist, influenced by the Indian tradition of Ayurveda. I very much agree with the author's basic understanding of the natural processes of homeostasis which help us (and all living creatures) to adapt to our changing environment. This book is a development of the ideas of Ivan Illich in "Medical Nemesis," but it is more detailed and insightful.
Lord Nicolas Rea, MP, Physician, House of Lords, London
Richard Smith, MD, FRCP
Former Editor, British Medical Journal, London
Here, laid out clearly and concisely, are all the well-established potholes and pitfalls in current medical thinking and practice. It is a thought provoking challenge to modern medical practice and research. Dr Hegde confronts the issue, and proposes an alternative humanistic attitude to education and treatment. Drawing on a huge range of resources from Sanskrit texts, Green and European philosophers, ancient and modern healers, to the most up-to-date Western research and publications. He has written a book that is both scholarly yet easy to read, and which will appeal to everyone involved in medicine whether students, practitioners or patients.
Editor, Amazon.com
A great book from a great teacher and a must read for everyone.
Dr GB Jain, FRCPE, DTMH
Founder, Delhi College of Physicians and Surgeons, New Delhi
...What we have here is an overview of the entire system of medical care, seen through the wisdom of a man who cares. This book should be prescribed as must reading for those aiming to be future physicians and surgeons. Plainly, it is impossible to over-rate this magnificent contribution to the science of healing.
MV Kamath
Chairman, Prasaara Bharati, New Delhi
It is a fascinating book distilling the author's philosophy of life and medicine after many years of professional experience as a senior Cardiologist, influenced by the Indian tradition of Ayurveda. I very much agree with the author's basic understanding of the natural processes of homeostasis which help us (and all living creatures) to adapt to our changing environment. This book is a development of the ideas of Ivan Illich in "Medical Nemesis," but it is more detailed and insightful.
Lord Nicolas Rea, MP, Physician, House of Lords, London
553 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 18, 2015
This is a great book by an experienced doctor. He exposes all the scary aspects of the medical industry today. How it has turned from a service to a money-oriented industry without any conscience or moral, putting people into misery and trouble with the dangerous practices followed. The medical lobby in general is threatening the entire world by making the healthy people sick.
The one bad thing about this book is the repetition of content (esp chapter 62 and 63 - are especially just copy paste under a different title though) and praising a few people well known to the author and the author praising himself at times.
Overall the book is good and stands as an eye-opener for those getting into the medical profession and those taking medical treatment
The one bad thing about this book is the repetition of content (esp chapter 62 and 63 - are especially just copy paste under a different title though) and praising a few people well known to the author and the author praising himself at times.
Overall the book is good and stands as an eye-opener for those getting into the medical profession and those taking medical treatment
January 12, 2016
Here's why I took away all the stars I can.
1) The book doesn't do justice to the title. It isn't about medical school. It is about how medicine is wrong. An apt title for this book is "A conspiracy theory about medicine"
2) The "scientific" reasoning and evidences. There is absolutely no logic in most chapters (and I could read only less than 50% because of the nauseating logic)
3) The authority of the author. Someone with so many academic honours, people would look up to him, they will hold his sayings at high reverence, and believe them at face value. Here is a person who went through the whole of medicine, only to come out at the other end and say it is all wrong.
4) Using irrelevant, outdated, quotes by great people, taken out of context, to begin every chapter.
5) Poor proofreading. Poor typesetting. I don't think it has even been edited. It looks like what has been put together in probably less than a month.
6) It says Randomised Controlled Trials are wrong.
Worst book ever that has been recommended to me.
Review on my blog
A review on a more authoritative platform to supplement this
1) The book doesn't do justice to the title. It isn't about medical school. It is about how medicine is wrong. An apt title for this book is "A conspiracy theory about medicine"
2) The "scientific" reasoning and evidences. There is absolutely no logic in most chapters (and I could read only less than 50% because of the nauseating logic)
3) The authority of the author. Someone with so many academic honours, people would look up to him, they will hold his sayings at high reverence, and believe them at face value. Here is a person who went through the whole of medicine, only to come out at the other end and say it is all wrong.
4) Using irrelevant, outdated, quotes by great people, taken out of context, to begin every chapter.
5) Poor proofreading. Poor typesetting. I don't think it has even been edited. It looks like what has been put together in probably less than a month.
6) It says Randomised Controlled Trials are wrong.
Worst book ever that has been recommended to me.
Review on my blog
A review on a more authoritative platform to supplement this
July 10, 2025
Overview: collection of fallacies which prevail in the modern medical system, ways to avoid these fallacies and lead a healthy life independent of drugs and super specialty doctoring.
What I Liked:
(1) Central Idea: the book remains consistent with a single central idea and purpose. This purpose is to educate the readers about how the modern medical system prioritizes money over curing the patient. The author underlines the lack of focus on the patient's overall well-being in modern medicine throughout the book via statistics and personal anecdotes. Although minor diversions do exist, as a whole the book does not stray from this central idea.
(2) Detailed plan on how to reform the medical system: The author has dedicated one chapter on how to reform the medical system. He identifies the necessity of starting with the students rather than settled doctors. He mentions various aspects of medicine which are not taught during medical school, such as bedside doctoring, alternative medicines and placebo, and lifestyle changes. The need of the hour is to encourage these age-old techniques, rather than drugs and quick fixes.
(3) Problem and Solution made very clear: The author has done a really good job of highlighting the underlying problem and the then obvious solution. He mentions how reductionist medicine, charged by drug lobbies and money, has taken over, whereas a holistic healing approach would be much more beneficial. Doctors must be trained with an emphasis on Whole Body Healthcare.
(4) Indigenous medicine: As mentioned above, the author repeatedly mentions how alternative medicine has been labeled unscientific, as it does not align with the money minting mindset of modern medicine. Much benefit could be reaped by opting for these medicines over powerful allopathic drugs. Ayurveda has been discussed in detail. The author does admit, however, that the wheat must be picked from the chaff i.e. actually good practices must be separated from pseudoscience.
(5) Simple language: The book is written in easy-to-understand English, and rarely succumbs to complications due to medical jargon.
What I disliked:
(1) Desperate need of an Editor: How much better this book would be if the editing was better! It genuinely feels as if I was reading an incomplete, somewhat rough draft. Chapters lack cohesiveness, entire paragraphs are repeated, random sentences have been 'glued' together, and so on. The book lacks readability and structure.
(2) Wordy: The author on multiple occasions struggles to get to the point. Readers have to filter the superficial rant from the lessons of this book.
(2) Unrelated beginning and ending quotes: Though the quotes are really interesting, they almost always have nothing to do with the chapter. This I found somewhat annoying.
(3) Biased support for claims: When science supports the author's claim, science is praised. When claims by a scientist do not support the author's views, the scientist is either ridiculed or not mentioned. Randomized Controlled Trials in particular and modern statistics in general have been labeled faulty, and thus the foundation for most statistical evidence has been labeled faulty as well.
(4) Bibliography: Most sources mentioned in the post-chapter bibliographies are his own speeches, with little to no extra content from the chapter. This makes little sense as the claims in this book are highly opinion based (most claims have little statistical evidence). Supporting your opinions by your own opinions is unscientific.
Overall, a must read book for anyone who thinks highly of modern medicine. This will surely make you consider your beliefs in the miracles of drugs and surgery, if not change them completely. However do be ware, it is a long and grueling book, with its own fair share of issues.
What I Liked:
(1) Central Idea: the book remains consistent with a single central idea and purpose. This purpose is to educate the readers about how the modern medical system prioritizes money over curing the patient. The author underlines the lack of focus on the patient's overall well-being in modern medicine throughout the book via statistics and personal anecdotes. Although minor diversions do exist, as a whole the book does not stray from this central idea.
(2) Detailed plan on how to reform the medical system: The author has dedicated one chapter on how to reform the medical system. He identifies the necessity of starting with the students rather than settled doctors. He mentions various aspects of medicine which are not taught during medical school, such as bedside doctoring, alternative medicines and placebo, and lifestyle changes. The need of the hour is to encourage these age-old techniques, rather than drugs and quick fixes.
(3) Problem and Solution made very clear: The author has done a really good job of highlighting the underlying problem and the then obvious solution. He mentions how reductionist medicine, charged by drug lobbies and money, has taken over, whereas a holistic healing approach would be much more beneficial. Doctors must be trained with an emphasis on Whole Body Healthcare.
(4) Indigenous medicine: As mentioned above, the author repeatedly mentions how alternative medicine has been labeled unscientific, as it does not align with the money minting mindset of modern medicine. Much benefit could be reaped by opting for these medicines over powerful allopathic drugs. Ayurveda has been discussed in detail. The author does admit, however, that the wheat must be picked from the chaff i.e. actually good practices must be separated from pseudoscience.
(5) Simple language: The book is written in easy-to-understand English, and rarely succumbs to complications due to medical jargon.
What I disliked:
(1) Desperate need of an Editor: How much better this book would be if the editing was better! It genuinely feels as if I was reading an incomplete, somewhat rough draft. Chapters lack cohesiveness, entire paragraphs are repeated, random sentences have been 'glued' together, and so on. The book lacks readability and structure.
(2) Wordy: The author on multiple occasions struggles to get to the point. Readers have to filter the superficial rant from the lessons of this book.
(2) Unrelated beginning and ending quotes: Though the quotes are really interesting, they almost always have nothing to do with the chapter. This I found somewhat annoying.
(3) Biased support for claims: When science supports the author's claim, science is praised. When claims by a scientist do not support the author's views, the scientist is either ridiculed or not mentioned. Randomized Controlled Trials in particular and modern statistics in general have been labeled faulty, and thus the foundation for most statistical evidence has been labeled faulty as well.
(4) Bibliography: Most sources mentioned in the post-chapter bibliographies are his own speeches, with little to no extra content from the chapter. This makes little sense as the claims in this book are highly opinion based (most claims have little statistical evidence). Supporting your opinions by your own opinions is unscientific.
Overall, a must read book for anyone who thinks highly of modern medicine. This will surely make you consider your beliefs in the miracles of drugs and surgery, if not change them completely. However do be ware, it is a long and grueling book, with its own fair share of issues.
May 14, 2020
I have learned a lot about medical business from this book. We can get acquainted with the new era of medical looting, research propaganda, and medical politics that have been described in a very lucid manner in the book. This book also delves deeper into how to become a very good doctor both at heart as well as at practice. It also gives you some crucial information regarding the medical lobbying happening not only in India but also in the entire global medical scenario. A true eye-opener this book has been, and an enlightning account of different ways of getting most out of medical business and how we the gullible public becoming the victims of all the medical high-tech technology equipments and ghostly practices.
May 25, 2017
Book highlights the money minded pharma companies and hospitals. people who are ignorant about modern day medicine should read this book. On the downside, editing of the book is not good. Many points are repeated across the book.
May 1, 2025
The time has come,' the Walrus said,
To talk of many things:
Of shoes — and ships — and sealing-wax —
Of cabbages — and kings —
And why the sea is boiling hot —
And whether pigs have wings
Well, this is the long and short of the book. :-))
Well jokes apart, this book did open my eyes as a lay person ( no medical education whatsoever), about the facts of how bodies work, how Normal BP is arbitrarily decided by a group of humans, blood sugar levels ditto, if first pass effect ( the phenomenon of liver scrapping almost 90% of most oral medicines as garbage) does what it does, then what I'd left is nothing but placebo, risks asymptomatic periodic checkups and treatments. The good doctor has written with earnest. He also advocates the success of Ayurveda as a life style principle ( as opposed to prescriptive medications as practiced nowadays). The expose on the various Pharma efforts to promote certain drugs and research. Would love for my doctor and pharmacist friends to read and offer a more educated feedback.
Now why 4 stars and not 5 -
1. Severely in need of an editor. Too much ranting, too much redundant repetition, too many baseless conspiracy theory claims, where no citations were listed.
2. Internal contradictions - While on one hand the BM Hegde opposes certain aspects stating that Statistics are skewed and they show you what the conglomerates want you to see. Fair enough, but then the good doctor himself reports Stats to prove his point. So that is hypocritical.
3. A lot of claims that are worthy of roadside discussion merits eg :- Runni g is bad, Water has memory, so Homeopathy works ( doesn't answer how the water decides to only remember the Homeopathic medicine and not all the elements, compounds toxic and otherwise as it flowed in from the tap to the homeopathic concoction maker.)
4. His entire Funda for us to is to allow the immune system to work towards weeding out the disease as opposed to a rushed intervention, but then he doesn't prescribe how long to wait before intervention? What about those who can't miss work because of a illness and would rather pop in a painkiller ,rather than resring the ankle sprain or the hairline Crack in the wrist.
5. If he is a such an ardent proponent of Ayurveda, why didn't he forego his allopathic career as a Cardiologist and practice Ayurveda, so also his kids who are allopathic medicine and surgery practioners. So his battle cry for Ayurveda seems all hot gas to garner public attention, like the typical yoga instructor who sells new and better variant of Yoga.
But that being said, definitely recommend each of us to read this book. Definitely an eye opener to say the least.
To talk of many things:
Of shoes — and ships — and sealing-wax —
Of cabbages — and kings —
And why the sea is boiling hot —
And whether pigs have wings
Well, this is the long and short of the book. :-))
Well jokes apart, this book did open my eyes as a lay person ( no medical education whatsoever), about the facts of how bodies work, how Normal BP is arbitrarily decided by a group of humans, blood sugar levels ditto, if first pass effect ( the phenomenon of liver scrapping almost 90% of most oral medicines as garbage) does what it does, then what I'd left is nothing but placebo, risks asymptomatic periodic checkups and treatments. The good doctor has written with earnest. He also advocates the success of Ayurveda as a life style principle ( as opposed to prescriptive medications as practiced nowadays). The expose on the various Pharma efforts to promote certain drugs and research. Would love for my doctor and pharmacist friends to read and offer a more educated feedback.
Now why 4 stars and not 5 -
1. Severely in need of an editor. Too much ranting, too much redundant repetition, too many baseless conspiracy theory claims, where no citations were listed.
2. Internal contradictions - While on one hand the BM Hegde opposes certain aspects stating that Statistics are skewed and they show you what the conglomerates want you to see. Fair enough, but then the good doctor himself reports Stats to prove his point. So that is hypocritical.
3. A lot of claims that are worthy of roadside discussion merits eg :- Runni g is bad, Water has memory, so Homeopathy works ( doesn't answer how the water decides to only remember the Homeopathic medicine and not all the elements, compounds toxic and otherwise as it flowed in from the tap to the homeopathic concoction maker.)
4. His entire Funda for us to is to allow the immune system to work towards weeding out the disease as opposed to a rushed intervention, but then he doesn't prescribe how long to wait before intervention? What about those who can't miss work because of a illness and would rather pop in a painkiller ,rather than resring the ankle sprain or the hairline Crack in the wrist.
5. If he is a such an ardent proponent of Ayurveda, why didn't he forego his allopathic career as a Cardiologist and practice Ayurveda, so also his kids who are allopathic medicine and surgery practioners. So his battle cry for Ayurveda seems all hot gas to garner public attention, like the typical yoga instructor who sells new and better variant of Yoga.
But that being said, definitely recommend each of us to read this book. Definitely an eye opener to say the least.
July 6, 2020
Something that every person should read to understand how pharma and doc run business.
May 25, 2017
Bought this book thinking I would learn a lot from it. After reading a few random articles I have lost the enthusiasm to read the rest of it !
Dr Hegde has chosen topics that are popular and controversial with the objective of what seems like making them even more controversial. After reading a few sections I thought this isnt a Doctor or Scientist speaking, this sounds more like a sham artist. Cross checked about the man with my GP and find he doesnt think much about Dr Hegde either ! He says much of Dr Hegde's claims don't match with his own doctors experience of 40 years. Not wanting to write him off i looked around some more and heres what I find -
http://www.nmji.in/archives/Volume_18...
and
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Dr Hegde has chosen topics that are popular and controversial with the objective of what seems like making them even more controversial. After reading a few sections I thought this isnt a Doctor or Scientist speaking, this sounds more like a sham artist. Cross checked about the man with my GP and find he doesnt think much about Dr Hegde either ! He says much of Dr Hegde's claims don't match with his own doctors experience of 40 years. Not wanting to write him off i looked around some more and heres what I find -
http://www.nmji.in/archives/Volume_18...
and
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
July 2, 2021
An extremely useful book which every medical student (and practitioner) must read. This can also enrich a common man so that he may avoid the medical industry's traps around him. Dr Hegde is a well-read doctor and his language is simple and straightforward. If we could debate on the various topics raised in the book at different public forums, we could help those who do not have the wherewithal to read and comprehend this valuable book. I was wondering whether there are any of his students following the line of action suggested by him.
January 1, 2021
A great book to start with, but it's a tedious job to finish it. The author had compiled myriad number of studies in this book. Repetitive but I think he tries to reiterate the facts. This book will make you to think twice before prescribing drugs.
June 5, 2019
gd book
June 29, 2019
A collection of essays from the author. There is a ton of repetitions.
Read
October 8, 2019zxxccvb
Read
March 30, 2021I did not find it interesting as a lay man.
June 19, 2021
i love it,,,,
July 31, 2021
Good book with diverse knowledge be it science, philosophy, mathematics, quantum physics, medical science. I have enjoyed and learned and thank Dr. BMHegde for penned down.
January 28, 2022
Best book and an eye opener about the harsh truth about the medical industry. Thank to Dr. Bm Hegde wisdom
January 24, 2025
Must read for all my fellow doctors out there !
March 2, 2025
Although the points made are good to a certain extent they are very redundant. Was not impressed.
November 1, 2016
Couldn't read beyond 30 pages. A book is supposed to present authors original views, this has only borrowed quotes & bold highlighted paragraphs, & I always thought highlighting was readers choice.
I had read an article in a Newspaper on Reductionist Medicine by Dr Hegde, impressed with that book was purchased, turns out disappointing.
I had read an article in a Newspaper on Reductionist Medicine by Dr Hegde, impressed with that book was purchased, turns out disappointing.
June 10, 2021
I am not a doctor nor anyone related to the medical field however this book is well written in way that I could understand what the author was trying to
Communicate. This book drives us through what’s happening in the medical industry. Worth the time invested.
Communicate. This book drives us through what’s happening in the medical industry. Worth the time invested.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews