Less Medicine, More Health

7 Assumptions That Drive Too Much Medical Care

By: H. Gilbert Welch

Narrated by: L. J. Ganser

The author of the highly acclaimed Overdiagnosed describes seven widespread assumptions that encourage excessive, often ineffective, and sometimes harmful medical care. You might think the biggest problem in medical care is that it costs too much. Or that health insurance is too expensive, too uneven, too complicated - and gives you too many forms to fill out. But the central problem is that too much medical care has too little value.

Dr. H. Gilbert Welch is worried about too much medical care. It's not to deny that some people get too little medical care, rather that the conventional concern about "too little" needs to be balanced with a concern about "too much": too many people being made to worry about diseases they don't have - and are at only average risk to get; too many people being tested and exposed to the harmful effects of the testing process; too many people being subjected to treatments they don't need - or can't benefit from. The American public has been sold the idea that seeking medical care is one of the most important steps to maintain wellness. Surprisingly, medical care is not, in fact, well correlated with good health. So more medicine does not equal more health; in reality the opposite may be true. The general public harbors assumptions about medical care that encourage overuse, assumptions like it's always better to fix the problem, sooner (or newer) is always better, or it never hurts to get more information. Less Medicine, More Health pushes against established wisdom and suggests that medical care can be too aggressive. Drawing on his 25 years of medical practice and research, Dr. Welch notes that while economics and lawyers contribute to the excesses of American medicine, the problem is essentially created when the general public clings to these powerful assumptions about the value of tests and treatments - a number of which are just plain wrong. By telling fascinating (and occasionally amusing) stories backed by reliable data, Dr. Welch challenges patients and the health-care establishment to rethink some very fundamental practices. His provocative prescriptions hold the potential to save money and, more important, improve health outcomes for us all.

©2015 Dr. H. Gilbert Welch (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

A side of medicine we don’t talk about enough

Essential reading for practitioners and patients alike. We have become too focused on technology and what we can do, and not focused enough on what we actually should do.

Informative, Interesting

Dr. Welch is witty, funny, and explains the important concept that Americans suffer too much health care. We all know of these victims, at which the medical business has caused harm, and at a great cost. For yourself, reconsider screening, invasive procedures, and treatments for "diseases" of which we have no symptoms. Highly recommend.

Great book.

It's good to see the other side of the coin. Straightforward and helpful. The more people exposed to this book and question their doctors the better it is for us all.

Brilliant book, a must-listen

Have given several copies of this book to friends and family since reading it myself. It's so important for people to understand the conflictions in their medical care and put their own hands on the wheel of their health. That way, they can get all all the benefits of modern medical care without getting stung by its weaknesses

Erudite and Witty

This is a must read for anyone who ever accesses or thinks about accessing the health care system, i.e, everyone. This book is packed with informative, fascinating and thought-provoking information and insights. Over the years, it will be a useful guide for considering and understanding the options we have when faced with health care decisions.

Sorely needed

A must read in order to awaken from the mass brain-washing of our society by these industries whose productivity is based on disease.

Some further expansion on a previous discussion

Dr.Welch has further consolidated the earlier discussions in his previous two books: " over diagnosed" and "Should I Be Tested for Cancer?: Maybe Not and Here's Why". The ideas of overdiagnosing and overtreating were supported by some new examples as those related to angioplasty for the asymptomatic patient, prescribing antiarrhythmics for chronic AF, back surgery and dental interventions..etc and expanded to include the care of the near dying patients.. Support listening/reading the book especially for those adopting (? may be breaching) the principle of trying to do less for getting more of health..

Big picture of health end medicine

Excellent resource to have a more balanced view of the risk and harms of medical care.

The truth will set you free

As a physician it is refreshing to hear someone explain the science simply to help remove the fear mongering that recent medicine/health culture has developed in an effort to make money off of the unfortunate and totally unprepared patient. The question will be can the patient who is used to letting others think for them learn well enough to save themselves from the current proverbial snowball?

Life changing and awesome book

What a wonderful book!

It completely changed how I view death—the ending part of the book where death and health is discussed. I would give the author a big hug if I had a chance to tell him thank you in person!
Very honest discussion.
Thank you so much! Highly recommend it for sure!

My father is also a primary care physician. He said to me who are generally very healthy and fit, you don’t have to do the mammogram so often if the procedure hurt you so much (the screening machine squeeze my otherwise healthy body so hard it is scary! to me!)

I also didn’t need the colonoscopy (did it but no need for it now I think about it)

Moderation of medical treatment works for me, not excessive obsessive worry. Go live a good life.