Patient Power: The Smart Patient's Guide to Health Care

John H. Gryfe is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon practising in
Toronto.

In recent years, there has been an explosion of self-help books designed
to help consumers achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The central
premise of this one is that people who understand not only their
personal health but also how the health-care system works are more
likely to exert greater control over their own lives as patients and
thereby create a more equitable balance of power between doctor and
patient.

The authors deal with many areas of patient concern. For instance, they
point out that the difficulties associated with the physical examination
can be minimized when the patient’s right to privacy and comfort is
acknowledged and respected. Their user-friendly and empathetic book will
help readers become better-informed patients and, as a result, more
satisfied users of the health-care system.