Patronising - but useful in parts (British Medical Association Complete Family Health Encyclopedia)

Member Name: merlina

Product:	British Medical Association Complete Family Health Encyclopedia
Date:	16/08/00 (55 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: reasonably comprehensive

Disadvantages: very superficial

I wasn't surprised that the BMA thinks its readers doesn't have much in the way of grey matter. After all, doctors are notorious for talking to you in words of one syllable as though you are a rather backward three year old. This book is a slight improvement on that - but not much. As a very, very basic introduction to the huge range of things that can go wrong with the human body, it's ok. But beyond that it is singularly unhelpful. One of my biggest criticisms is that it never admits, as doctors so often don't, when they just don't know the answer to something or where medical opinion is currently divided or being challenged on an issue, and no references are provided to check or follow-up on the statements it makes. The tone of this book, produced by what is effectively the doctors' trade union, is very much 'doctor knows best'.

Summary: