The Age of Dedoctorization

Aydin Z. Bill, M.D.
American Literary Press (2008)
ISBN 9781934696125
Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (9/08)

 

We are living in an age where more progress than ever has been made in extending lives, curing disease and providing health care prevention.  I have to ask the question then, why do I as an Executive Director of a not-for-profit healthcare organization spend so much of my time advocating for individuals whose healthcare plans are refusing to pay for simple procedures?  A couple of years ago, I spent over 50% of my time at my local state house educating legislators as to why medical health care providers should decide what constitutes a treatment, not health plan administrators.  That is why Dr. Bill’s story is so important. He wrote his memoir in hope that the same trend that tied his hands as a physician over several decades will not repeat itself again. 

Dr. Bill was born, raised and educated in Turkey.  Early on in his life he suffered tragedy with the loss of his own father who was a mental health care provider. During school Dr. Bill proved himself a very worthy advocate in promoting the funding of medical student exchange programs. 

After medical school, Dr. Bill decided to move to America and work at the Delaware State Hospital.  As always, he worked hard to advocate for patients health care.  He chronicles the years when he was the last psychiatrist administrator in a private psychiatric hospital.  He discusses the pitfalls of health care when business administrators take over.  He also discusses the fact that while administrators were making drastic cuts in health care during those years, administrative costs went through the roof. 

Dr. Bill’s thoughtful front-line perspective is very important to what is happening in today’s healthcare arena.   The only problem that I found in the book was that I found parts confusing when he was jumping back and forth between years.  Sometimes I was not sure if he was in Turkey or the U.S.  I would recommend “The Age of Dedoctorization” to those who are in the healthcare field, patients or family members advocating for patient care, legislators and for health care business administrators.

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