Feedback from a Physical Therapist: August 6, 2005

Dear Dr. Abramson,

I read your book today from cover to cover. I have read quite a few books on this topic, but I feel that your book is as good as it gets. I am a practicing physical therapist working in Early Intervention (home care). Daily my patients parents seek my advice on health related issues especially when the medical intervention that their children are receiving does not produce the desired outcomes. Much of the care that is given sounds like the parents and child have a 2 minute meeting with the doctor, a culture is done, and a prescription is provided.

I am in my fifties. As a child, I was priveleged to have a family physician who came to our home with his black bag in tow, and he spent quite a bit of time doing a medical intake and examination, and he would then diagnose with remarkable accuracy.

It has been frustrating to "progress" from that kind of medical care to modern standards of practice. Your book not only explains how this transition happened, but it amply exposes how it threatens the quality of our current medical care and our health.

I thank you for your courage and for your effort in producing Overdo$sed America.

As an aside, I recently read "The Cholesterol Myths" by Dr. Uffe Ravnskov. This book takes a very critical look at all of the major cholesterol studies that were done in the last century. Are you familiar with this work? It appears to provide a lot of support for your "Smoking Gun" chapter.

Thanks again and best regards,
Ari Meisel