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By Michael Christopher Gibbons.
178 pp, $69.95.
New York, NY, Springer, 2008.
ISBN-13 978-0-3877-2814-8.

JAMA. 2008;299(8):961-962.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Robert Redford is quoted as once saying, "Criticism challenges current findings. The effort to defend one's position can lead to deeper insights or consideration of options previously not considered." On that note, I respectfully offer my thoughts on a manuscript that was adequate but ultimately not satisfying.

At one point, the text states that " . . . healthcare disparities can no longer be credibly disputed . . . " I might argue that they are not disputed as much as ignored. Health disparities are real. For example, the life expectancy of an African American male child born in the United States today is 7 years less than that of a white male child; the diabetes death rate in Hispanics is 40% higher than in non-Hispanic whites; and the cancer death rate is 35% higher among African Americans than among whites.¹

The book is organized into 4 sections. The first section provides an overview and identifies key issues . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Stanley W. Borg, DO, Reviewer
Managed Healthcare Consultant
Chicago, Illinois
s_b88@hotmail.com