The Edge of Medicine: The Technology That Will Change Our Lives

Hanson, William, M.D. The Edge of Medicine: The Technology That Will Change Our Lives. Palgrave Macmillan. 2008. c.256p. index. ISBN 978-0-230-60575-6. $24.95. MED~Verdict: A well-constructed introduction to the breakthrough innovations transforming medicine, this book will enjoy a wide readership and is recommended for all libraries. Background: Anesthesiologist Hanson (chief of intensive care, Univ. of Pennsylvania Medical Sch.) praises the reliability and precision that computer science has brought to the high-powered world of medicine, championing robotic surgery, cryogenics, and proton treatment. His position would have been stronger had he acknowledged the human frailty behind modern medical marvels; his faith in technology does not take into account the humdrum and inescapable frustrations that everyday users of technology face: slow systems, constant updates, incompatibilities, and spam.-Fran Mentch, Cleveland State Univ. Lib., Cleveland.