Male [Mal]practice: How Doctors Manipulate Women

by Robert S. Mendelsohn

Book Overview

Argues that condescending attitudes towards women have become institutionalized in modern medicine and result in unnecessary, degrading, and dangerous practices This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0809259745
• ISBN13: 9780809259748
• Release Date: January 1981
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/Contemporary
• Length: 205 Pages
• Weight: 1.18 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Still relevant today

I read Male Practice twenty-one years ago, because the book caught my eye and I had already been thinking about how doctors were much more apt to prescribe medications for women than for men. If a man experienced depression he had counseling prescribed for him. If a woman had the same problem, she would get a prescription for some kind of medication. I was also aware how insensitive society has been to basic anatomical facts about women: for example, making high-heeled shoes attractive to them, and discouraging them from speaking at a pitch that would be more natural for their vocal chords but instead pressuring them in all sorts of subtle ways to pitch their voices into the men's voice range no matter that it eventually ruins their voice.I saw much more than that sort of thing in Dr. Mendelsohn's book, however. The shameful way women were treated in their unique role of pregnancy and childbirth was something I had not noticed before. Even now, obstetricians direct women to the table. That, and the stirrups, tells us we're still in the dark ages. Maybe not even that. In the dark ages women were using birthing stools, which are still the right way to go. He aptly points out that where men got control of childbirth, out went the birthing stool and in came a bunch of unnecessary problems, especially the dreadful episiotomy. Since a baby's weight is often resting on its umbilical cord during a supine childbirth, treatments for fetal distress are made necessary, including caesarian section (which I actually saw recommended when my son's head was crowning). The reclined, leaning back, lithotomy position that is currently being promoted for childbirth, is just about as bad. The influence of the male-dominated medical profession is visible in supposedly midwife-controlled birthing centers, where women's childbirth education is routinely channeled along male-approved lines. Even women gynecologists and obstetricians still toe the male-approved line, a fact pointed out when the book was written, so you can't count even on a woman doctor to look out for your best interests if you are a woman.There is a lot of progress that is just as overdue now as it was when Dr. Mendelsohn wrote his book.

a book that has changed the direction in my life

I was introduced to this book by my teacher. Based on the information given in this book, I have decided to do a home birth with my first son. Two years later, I delivered my second son at home. During my regular prenatal check-ups, my naturopathic doctor, midwife tought me how to be resposible for my own health. I changed my diet, my lifestyle, I used hypnosis for pain relief which worked beautifully. Before I read this book I was a follower and pretty much did what the medical authority told me. Robert Mendelsohn WOKE me up! Now I research a lot and use naturopathic methods of healing and herbs. I never would have thought that a book could change the direction of my life. I also highly recommend another book by Robert Mendelsohn which is called "How To Raise A Healthy Child Inspite of Your Doctor" which sheds some real light on safety of vaccinations. Jana

Excellent-Everyone should read this book (especially women!

This book is a real eye opener. We all like to have trust in our Doctor and Hospital. After reading this book I had a whole new view of medicine. Lots of wonderful information for women on what to do if your Doctor recommends surgery. It is a real shame this book is no longer available. It would be wonderful if Contemporary Books would reprint this book.

"...credible...should be read by ALL women!"

I was introduced to this book by a professor a few years ago...I was only assigned to read a couple of chapters--I eventually read the whole book....to me the content of the book was so vital, that I took notes on the book, and began to share with others what I had read... Having recently watched my mother pass, the book hit home even further. Has I watched the doctors fumble and stumble with my mother's life, I was constantly reminded of Mendlesohn's book. Let's face it, poor black women in America will not get top-notch treatment anywhere--let alone, a hospital! It is truly a shame that this book is being cast into oblivion (out of print)...it helped change my thinking of the Medical Association in the U.S.

This is an eye-opener from a concerned doctor and parent.

Even though this book is about 17 years old, I really like it. It will help all people, especially women, to take control of their visits with their doctors, to ask questions, refuse therapy because of the real threat posed by unnecessary and dangerous procedures, tests, physicals, and drugs. A must read for anyone who visits doctors for their healthcare. It inspires me to continue to do research before subjecting myself to recommended procedures, etc.