The Life You Save: Nine Steps to Finding the Best Medical Care-and Avoiding the Worst »

Patrick Malone is one of the leading attorneys in the United States working on behalf of seriously injured people in lawsuits against hospitals, doctors, drug manufacturers, government agencies, and insurance companies. Malone is a graduate of Yale Law School. He is a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He lives near Washington, DC.

Patient advocate Patrick Malone shows you how to get the best medical care and how to avoid being a victim of malpractice

1 This Book Could Save Your Life 1

2 Right Now: Get Your Records and Read Them 13

3 Talking to Your Doctor: Put It in Writing 29

4 When the Diagnosis Is in Doubt 45

5 Your Best Ally: A Top Primary-Care Doctor 55

6 Steering Clear of Dangerous Doctors 65

7 Drugs: A Dose of Reality About the Prescription Drug Industry and How You Can Safely Use Medicines 71

8 "Should I Be Tested?" Why Understanding the Numbers Is Crucial 85

9 The Second Opinion: Always Your First Choice 97

10 When You Need Surgery: Avoiding Dr. Not-So-Good and Finding Dr. Right 119

11 Making a List and Checking It Twice: The Key to Safe Surgery 143

12 Your Personal Advocate, in the Hospital and Out 155

13 The Scandal of Infections in Hospitals and Other Health-Care Facilities, and What You Can Do 169

14 Looking for the Best Hospital: A Frustrating Journey with Some Hope 187

15 Living with Chronic Disease: Advice from Survivors 203

16 Auditing Your Care so You Live Longer 219

17 Celebrating the Heroes and Champions of Patient Safety and Quality Care 231

Epilogue: Dealing With Medical Injury 243

Acknowledgments 255

Resources and Further Reading 257

Appendix A Twenty-eight Things That Should Never Happen in a Health-Care Facility 261

Appendix B High-Risk Situations in Biopsy Diagnosis of Cancer 265

Appendix C Fifteen Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Risk of a Hospital Infection 267

Notes 271

Index 283