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The Good Doctors: The Medical Committee for Human Rights and the Struggle for Social Justice in Health Care
The untold story of the courageous doctors and nurses who fought the battle for racial justice in hospitals, in clinics, and on the streets in the 1960s. The Medical Committee for Human Rights was organized in the summer of 1964 by medical professionals, mostly white and Northern, to provide care and support for Civil Rights activists who were organizing black voters in Mississippi. They left their lives and lucrative private practices to march beside and tend the wounds of demonstrators from Freedom Summer, to the March on Selma, to the Chicago Democratic Convention of 1968. Galvanized, and sometimes radicalized, by their firsthand view of disenfranchised communities, the MCHR soon expanded its mission to encompass a range of causes from poverty to the war in Vietnam, and later took on the whole of the United States healthcare system. The MCHR doctors soon realized that fighting segregation would mean not just caring for white volunteers, but exposing and correcting the shocking inequalities in segregated health care. They pioneered community health plans and brought medical care to underserved, or unserved, areas. Though education was the most famous battleground for integration, the appaling injustice of segregated health care had equally devastating consequences. Award-winning historian John Dittmer, author of the classic Civil Rights history Local People , has written an insightful and moving account of a group of idealists who put their careers in the service of the belief, stated in their motto, that "Health Care Is a Human Right."
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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257 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 5, 2010
The Medical Committee for Human Rights (MCHR) was created in 1964 to provide medical care to civil rights workers during Freedom Summer, the grass roots program that sought to register thousands of black Mississippians to vote. The Magnolia State in the mid-1960s was the poorest and most repressive state in the Union, as many of its black citizens were starving, dying from preventable illness, and in great fear of seeking their civil rights due to hostile whites, state and local police that preserved the status quo, and the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in the Deep South.
The MCHR expanded its operations throughout the South, after some initial missteps, and played a major role in desegregating hospitals that were in violation of federal law, providing health care and education for blacks who had never been seen by a physician, and treating activists and local residents felled by police and angry mobs during civil rights marches and demonstrations. The MCHR also took an active role in opposing the Vietnam War, encouraging medical schools to enroll more minority physicians, opening community health centers, and lobbying for universal health care.
In later years the effectiveness of the MCHR was diminished by internecine feuds and external opposition, and it withered and collapsed during the early 1980s due to financial difficulty and a lack of purpose. Despite its short existence and limited successes, its efforts continue to bear fruit: many more minority physicians and nurses are in practice in the Deep South and throughout the United States; community health centers continue to operate in underserved areas; and medical organizations such as Doctors for America and Physicians for a National Health Program continue to lobby for universal health care.
John Dittmer, a professor of history at DePauw University, does a great service by chronicling the efforts of the MCHR in The Good Doctors. However, the book is marred by an overemphasis on detail, as the author includes too many people and facts, which made this a difficult book to enjoy. I doubt that I would read it to the end if I wasn't highly interested in the topic. The story of the MCHR is a compelling one, but it deserves a better narrative, and I would only recommend The Good Doctors for the reader with a strong desire to learn about this Committee.
The MCHR expanded its operations throughout the South, after some initial missteps, and played a major role in desegregating hospitals that were in violation of federal law, providing health care and education for blacks who had never been seen by a physician, and treating activists and local residents felled by police and angry mobs during civil rights marches and demonstrations. The MCHR also took an active role in opposing the Vietnam War, encouraging medical schools to enroll more minority physicians, opening community health centers, and lobbying for universal health care.
In later years the effectiveness of the MCHR was diminished by internecine feuds and external opposition, and it withered and collapsed during the early 1980s due to financial difficulty and a lack of purpose. Despite its short existence and limited successes, its efforts continue to bear fruit: many more minority physicians and nurses are in practice in the Deep South and throughout the United States; community health centers continue to operate in underserved areas; and medical organizations such as Doctors for America and Physicians for a National Health Program continue to lobby for universal health care.
John Dittmer, a professor of history at DePauw University, does a great service by chronicling the efforts of the MCHR in The Good Doctors. However, the book is marred by an overemphasis on detail, as the author includes too many people and facts, which made this a difficult book to enjoy. I doubt that I would read it to the end if I wasn't highly interested in the topic. The story of the MCHR is a compelling one, but it deserves a better narrative, and I would only recommend The Good Doctors for the reader with a strong desire to learn about this Committee.
July 15, 2009
This was an intriguing historical look at social justice in health care, particularly as related to the Civil Rights movement. I learned about a lot of folks I didn't know about, and Dittmer writes in an engaging, relatively accessible way about the tensions and successes with the Medical Committee for Human Rights. Of particular interest were his explorations of reformist vs. radical action, urban vs. rural, and "professional" vs. "community" struggles. I liked it. Totally recommended for anyone in health care.
October 30, 2025
Probably the most comprehensive history of the "Medical New Left". Provides great detail on the practical ways in which medical professional interacted with the broader currents of activism throughout the 1950s-1970s. Suffers mainly from the author's lack of understanding/bias against the New Communist Movement in the later chapters which detail the progressive takeover of the MCHR by the RCP. This prevents the author from truly understanding the decline of the MCHR in the mid-1970s, which was likely more due to the structural problems facing all radical movements at that time rather than any particular factor endogenous to the organization.
June 17, 2009
Superbly written (and I would expect nothing less from this author), The Good Doctors examines the creation, role, activism and struggles of the Medical Committee for Human Rights, which started as an organization to help out civil rights workers in the south during the early 1960s. The committee's statement of purpose:
"We are deeply concerned with the health needs of the socially deprived. It is our purpose to initiate activities to improve their health status and to provide professional support and assistance to organizations concerned with human rights." (62).
That is precisely what the members of this committee did, whether it be to civil rights workers in Mississippi or other places in the south, or to offer medical aid to those who marched in Selma (and other places). The Committee also worked tirelessly to gather evidence of racial discrimination in the cases of hospitals and medical officials who had taken federal funding but who were actively discriminating against African-Americans not only in the south, but in other parts of the country as well. Members were often attacked by law enforcement while they were in the Jim Crow-ruled American South, making their jobs even tougher but still they kept on with their work. The members set up health clinics and tried to get to the root of social injustice and help locals to gain some sense of self-empowerment. Members were there at Wounded Knee, at Alcatraz, at the Chicago Democratic Convention, at various anti-Vietnam war demonstrations and the list goes on. The Committee worked to try to get the message across to politicians, the AMA and other organizations that health care is not a privilege, but rather a human right, through their efforts to support a national health program.
The most impressive part of this book (not that the whole thing isn't great) was Dittmer's examination of how the MCHR went from its original conception to the "medical arm of the new left." From the Black Panthers on down to the Progressive Labor Party in the 1970s and beyond, Dittmer shows how national and local politics, infighting among factions in the local Committee chapters and at higher levels, and other factors changed the face of MCHR as the decades progressed. The changing face of Black activism, taking on a more "Black Nationalism" tone, the wave of ideologies of the revolutionary organizations and parties in the 70s also led to changes in the organization. Dittmer does an excellent job in examining these phenomenon.
Finally, not only does Dittmer vew the Committee as an entity, he goes on in some detail to examine the motivations and backgrounds of the founding members, and those who joined later, as well as the hard and often dangerous being work done by individual members out in the field, anywhere where racism & poverty often kept people in ignorance or prevented people from receiving decent health care.
I can't really do this book justice in a few short paragraphs, but it is simply excellent. Anyone with any interest in a more in-depth look at the Civil Rights Movement itself, or as it is connected to the history of medicine in the US should read this book. I highly recommend it.
thanks, Librarything Early Reviewers program!
"We are deeply concerned with the health needs of the socially deprived. It is our purpose to initiate activities to improve their health status and to provide professional support and assistance to organizations concerned with human rights." (62).
That is precisely what the members of this committee did, whether it be to civil rights workers in Mississippi or other places in the south, or to offer medical aid to those who marched in Selma (and other places). The Committee also worked tirelessly to gather evidence of racial discrimination in the cases of hospitals and medical officials who had taken federal funding but who were actively discriminating against African-Americans not only in the south, but in other parts of the country as well. Members were often attacked by law enforcement while they were in the Jim Crow-ruled American South, making their jobs even tougher but still they kept on with their work. The members set up health clinics and tried to get to the root of social injustice and help locals to gain some sense of self-empowerment. Members were there at Wounded Knee, at Alcatraz, at the Chicago Democratic Convention, at various anti-Vietnam war demonstrations and the list goes on. The Committee worked to try to get the message across to politicians, the AMA and other organizations that health care is not a privilege, but rather a human right, through their efforts to support a national health program.
The most impressive part of this book (not that the whole thing isn't great) was Dittmer's examination of how the MCHR went from its original conception to the "medical arm of the new left." From the Black Panthers on down to the Progressive Labor Party in the 1970s and beyond, Dittmer shows how national and local politics, infighting among factions in the local Committee chapters and at higher levels, and other factors changed the face of MCHR as the decades progressed. The changing face of Black activism, taking on a more "Black Nationalism" tone, the wave of ideologies of the revolutionary organizations and parties in the 70s also led to changes in the organization. Dittmer does an excellent job in examining these phenomenon.
Finally, not only does Dittmer vew the Committee as an entity, he goes on in some detail to examine the motivations and backgrounds of the founding members, and those who joined later, as well as the hard and often dangerous being work done by individual members out in the field, anywhere where racism & poverty often kept people in ignorance or prevented people from receiving decent health care.
I can't really do this book justice in a few short paragraphs, but it is simply excellent. Anyone with any interest in a more in-depth look at the Civil Rights Movement itself, or as it is connected to the history of medicine in the US should read this book. I highly recommend it.
thanks, Librarything Early Reviewers program!
July 30, 2009
John Dittmer relates the history and development of the Medical Committee for Human Rights and the involvement of the Committee and its members in not only the civil rights movement, but in every “social justice” movement of the 1960s and early 1970s. His stated intent was to give credit to the medical professionals who put themselves into difficult and sometimes dangerous situations in the interest of advancing medical care to blacks, to the poor, and to anyone deprived of access to care because of his or her status in the community. Unfortunately, despite the author’s apparent substantial knowledge of the era, the book is so poorly written that it can only leave the interested reader frustrated.
At the outset, many scenes and individuals were described in a way that made me feel they were being flashed on a screen. I have read a few books about the civil rights movement, but only after I had read about two-thirds of the book did I have a real sense of who were the significant individual participants in the movement. Someone with no prior knowledge of the events of the times would be at a complete loss to understand and follow the narrative.
There are occasional glimpses of how good this book and the telling of this story could be. Chapter 6, The Last March, and Chapter 7, The War at Home, are focused and cohesive. Most of the rest of the book, however, gave the impression of reading newspaper or magazine reports that were thrown together in an attempt to write a book. The writing was anecdotal. Analysis was lacking and there were often sweeping generalizations resulting in unsupported conclusions. Transitions between chapters, and sometimes between paragraphs, were choppy and bordered on the illogical.
For those of us interested in the civil rights movement and social justice issues of the era, the subject the author tries to illuminate holds great interest. Perhaps Dittmer wrote this book in a rush. Certainly his editors did him no favors. The information is there; I would like to see the author “take a Mulligan” and do it over.
At the outset, many scenes and individuals were described in a way that made me feel they were being flashed on a screen. I have read a few books about the civil rights movement, but only after I had read about two-thirds of the book did I have a real sense of who were the significant individual participants in the movement. Someone with no prior knowledge of the events of the times would be at a complete loss to understand and follow the narrative.
There are occasional glimpses of how good this book and the telling of this story could be. Chapter 6, The Last March, and Chapter 7, The War at Home, are focused and cohesive. Most of the rest of the book, however, gave the impression of reading newspaper or magazine reports that were thrown together in an attempt to write a book. The writing was anecdotal. Analysis was lacking and there were often sweeping generalizations resulting in unsupported conclusions. Transitions between chapters, and sometimes between paragraphs, were choppy and bordered on the illogical.
For those of us interested in the civil rights movement and social justice issues of the era, the subject the author tries to illuminate holds great interest. Perhaps Dittmer wrote this book in a rush. Certainly his editors did him no favors. The information is there; I would like to see the author “take a Mulligan” and do it over.
August 8, 2009
This book details the Medical Committee for Human Rights as it interacted with and supported the many social movements of the 60's and 70's. The basic feeling of the MCHR was that health care is a basic human right and that working to end the segregation and inequallity in health care was this groups best way to attempt to right the many injustices of the time.
Dittmer shines a light on an important role in the battle for equal rights that gets less attention as we get further from the period in which these events took place. We also see the difficulty of organizing, funding and motivating a group, even when the participants understand and are passionate about its importance and necessity.
Dittmer shines a light on an important role in the battle for equal rights that gets less attention as we get further from the period in which these events took place. We also see the difficulty of organizing, funding and motivating a group, even when the participants understand and are passionate about its importance and necessity.
September 10, 2009
This was an interesting read that took a little bit of time to read. You really have to be in a certain mindset to read it. I liked it and it amazed me on what the Doctors went thru during the Civil Rights Era. Not just the black Doctors, the white ones as well. Plus there is added insight in what the black patients and lower income persons as well. I really stopped and made me think the entire time period and what many people endured during this time. I think all people should read this book and it would help to have a better understanding on what both races went through. Not only the problems the Doctors faced, but the nurses as well. I really liked the afterward that gave updates on what each Doctor went on to do after the Civil Rights movement.
June 4, 2009
This is a very detailed look at the work that the Medical Committee for Human Rights did during the civil rights era. As the blurb on the back of the book states, the doctors in the movement "soon realized that fighting segregation would mean not just caring for white activists but exposing and correcting shocking inequality in segregated medicine."
The level of detail in the book means that it is probably best suited to students and those with a specific interest in the civil rights/social justice movements, or the history of medical care in the United States.
The level of detail in the book means that it is probably best suited to students and those with a specific interest in the civil rights/social justice movements, or the history of medical care in the United States.
July 1, 2009
This book is a very well written and detailed look at the work that the Medical Committee for Human Rights did during the civil rights era. This is must read for those with an interest in social justice and/or medical history in the United States. The book may be a difficult read for some, especially if interest in the subject matter is lacking, but it is well worth the time and history lesson.
July 25, 2009
I found this topic very interesting as it was something I knew very little about beforehand. In this book a particular aspect of the civil rights movement (healthcare) is examined in close detail. Many of the issues that were problematic in the healthcare system then are still present only less overt and more class based than racial. It is a very academically written book with many specific details.
June 1, 2009
This book outlines a process whereby health care is a human right and not a priviledge. The medical committee for human rights in their committment for social justice in health care creates a path into healing that is attainable. It has long been noted that money buys you better care. This book is an attempt to share ideas on how this is not necessary and what can be done to elicit care as a fundamental obligation to all.
Sam Oliver, author of, "The Path into Healing"
Sam Oliver, author of, "The Path into Healing"
July 1, 2009
A very detailed account of the activities of the Medical Committee on Human Rights during the 1960s and 1970s. Before reading this book I was ignorant about many of the inequalities that existed within the health care system only 50 years ago and I think many of the messages of the medical committee still apply today. I would recommend this book to anyone involved in or just curious about community health and the evolution of health care from a privilege to a basic human right.
Read
February 28, 2012I was unable to get very far into this book. The civil rights era is of course fascinating to read about, and the book seemed very well researched, but the writing was too academic for this reader. The author failed to bring the reader into the events and the minds of the people he writes about, and instead writes an encyclopedic summary of the news. I'm glad Dittmer did this research and wrote this book about it. But I don't think it will be very engaging to too many audiences.
November 24, 2016
A deep and insightful chronicle on human health care for all regardless of race, status or sexual orientation. Starting from the small grassroots movements earlier in the century, the marches and protests of the sixties, to the larger group and then national struggles for healthcare today, this book paints a grand image of simple doctors that chose to be more than just physicians, they chose to be heroes, fighters and most of all activists.
June 9, 2009
"The Good Doctors" takes an in-depth look at the history of social justice as it pertained to our medical system. I found the stories of the courageous doctors who fought for equal rights in health care to be compelling and inspiring. It is an area of the civil rights battle that I knew little of and that still affects our health care system today.
January 3, 2010
This book is a 'must read' for those interested in health issues and how long there have been calls for expanding health care, and how attacks such as 'socialism' are not new, just recycled. This is a meticulously researched book, written by an award winning historian (Bancroft prize), in a flowing style that makes it hard to put down.
June 10, 2009
Interesting look behind the scenes of the Civil Rights movement. Health workers faced an extra set of ethical challenges I never thought of before picking up this book. A little difficult to keep up with all the people described and a bit "textbook-y" at times but overall a good read.
Read
March 14, 2010Good book, facts of some of the important specific events and persons are a bit off, but all in all a good read. Needs to be followed-up with interviews of most of the key figures before they are too old to be interviewed.
Want to read
August 25, 2016not in overdrive
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews