Encyclopedia of Health - Health & Medicine - Book Review

American Fitness, Sept-Oct, 2002

"If a doctor has not educated his [or her] patient, he [or she] cannot hope to heal [him or her]," says Antonio Gotto, Jr., M.D., D. Phil., a professor of medicine and dean of Weill Medical College at Cornell University. However, how much education can patients get when the time allotted with their doctor is usually 15 minutes, at the most, and sometimes less than five?

To help patients educate themselves, Dr. Gotto, with the help of a large editorial board of highly regarded physicians, has produced the Cornell Illustrated Encyclopedia of Health (LifeLine Press; $45.00). This encyclopedia addresses 3,600 health topics organized from A to Z and features 1,200 full-color illustrations, research tools for identifying treatments, cautions, prognosis and related illnesses. Information boxes discuss related issues, resource boxes list the best sources of additional information and alert boxes explain special precautions to take.

"We have seen a dramatic shift as patients move from viewing themselves as passive recipients of medical care toward taking an active role in their own treatment," states Dr. Gotto. "[The Cornell Illustrated Encyclopedia of Health] provides a broad survey of the latest information. Our goal is to help you become a better-informed patient."

The Cornell Illustrated Encyclopedia of Health is available at all major bookstores, (888) 219-4747 and amazon.com.