Book List | Summary | Contents | Excerpts | Ordering Information

"To have no access to medical care, or to have excessive access, can be hazardous to one's health. Treating patients effectively, without under-treating or over-treating, may become the biggest challenge for physicians of this century."

"Dr Ortega continued. 'It's not worth using an anesthetic or analgesic in these cases. It's a quick procedure…"

"'Doctor,' he said, panting and trying to recover after each word. 'Doctor, please…read me…from the Bible.'

'Of course, Ronnie,' I said, 'I'll find one, and I'll read to you, okay?' He smiled. I pulled the striped gray and white separator curtain open, and walked towards a nurse.

'A Bible,' I said, 'I need a Bible."

She looked at me as if I had lost my mind. Then, with that territorial tone of authority, she said, 'We don't have a Bible,' and shrugged her shoulders."