Your medical mind : how to decide what is right for you / Jerome Groopman and Pamela Hartzband.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Where am I in the numbers -- Believers and doubters -- But is it best for me? -- Regret -- Neighborly advice -- Autonomy and coping -- Decision analysis meets reality -- End of life -- When the patient can't decide.

Making the right medical choices is harder than ever. Whether deciding on a cholesterol drug or choosing a cancer treatment, we are overwhelmed by information from all sides: our doctors' recommendations, dissenting expert opinions, confusing statistics, conflicting media reports, the advice of friends, claims on the Internet, and a never-ending stream of drug company ads. This book shows us how to chart a clear path through this sea of confusion. Drs. Groopman and Hartzband reveal that each of us has a set of deeply rooted beliefs whose profound influence we may not realize when we make medical decisions. Recognizing our preferences and the external factors that might lead our thinking astray can make a dramatic, even lifesaving, difference in our medical decision making. The authors drew on research and insights from patients, doctors, psychologists, economists, and other experts to help reveal the array of forces that can aid or impede our thinking.--From publisher description.