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 A Must Read!!! March 31, 2002
6 out of 6 found this comment useful.
As a pre-med major hoping to work in Third World Countries, this book speaks straight to my heart. Bentivegna is brilliant and completely honest about the suffering in Haiti. I found myself laughing in earnest at his awkward culture shock and horrified by the people that came to him for help. He has a heart of gold and a mind to match; his spirit and humanity are revealed to the public and I am in awe of his character. Bentivegna is a man I would have loved to meet and work alongside of in Haiti and his book is a testament of his work. I recommend this for anyone and everyone. It is wildly intellectual without seeming dull. It is shocking, grotesque and painful, but very true. I have seen Haiti with my eyes and he speaks from the heart with real clarity.
A must read for medical volunteers in Haiti November 12, 2001
6 out of 6 found this comment useful.
"Neglected and Abused" is a must read for anyone going to Haiti as a medical volunteer (or anyone going to Haiti for any reason). I was captivated by Dr. Joe's tales of medicine in a country with so few resources. I have been going to Haiti as a medical missionary for two years now and I found this book to be an excellent account of the medical situation in Haiti. I think this book would be a wise read for anyone planning a trip to give you an idea of what you are about to face. Dr. Joe's experience took place in the late 1980's before the embargo and the subsequent further deterioration of the health situation in Haiti. Keep that in mind when you read this book - things are worse now.
Very realistic August 3, 2001
3 out of 3 found this comment useful.
I am not Haitian, but I have been to Haiti many times and the book seems to present a very realistic picture of the people and problems in Haiti. Dr. Bentivegna simply tells it like it is--he realizes that problems like malnutrition, unsanitary water, and lack of vaccination programs and birth control compound any doctor's best efforts to provide medical care to the poor in Haiti. He does not hide his frustration as he encounters these things and others as his year in Haiti progresses. Along these lines, he states in the epilogue: "The problems that initially seemed so easy to solve became infinitely complex the better I understood them" (p. 161).The title of the last chapter in the book is "Questions Without Answers," and includes story upon story of ethical dilemmas he encountered in Haiti (which are so different from the dilemmas encountered in 1st-world medicine), and how he chose to act in these situations. They illustrate how gray the lines can be, and how he had to, as he says, "play God" in Haiti. He also points out the problems that occur when people and groups attempt to impliment short-term solutions to long-term problems. It's very eye-opening. In the midst of this, it is obvious that Dr. Bentivegna loves and respects the Haitian people, and that he is torn by their plight. Sadly, though this book was written more than a decade ago, it might as well have been written last month. We can only hope and pray that Aristide's leadership will bring infrastructural changes and economic development to Haiti in the coming years. It is only these things, as Bentivegna notes, that will provide long-term change in Haiti.
Doctor in Haiti July 7, 2001
4 out of 5 found this comment useful.
Despite this book being a little bit older, it is still relevant. It is an excellent review of Haitian medicine, as seen by an American. A great, great read. Buy it, if you're going on a short-term or long-term missions trip. 10 stars!
An accurate, gripping depiction of life in Haiti May 16, 1999
12 out of 12 found this comment useful.
Bentevegna, in his simple and straightforward writing style, is sure to gain the attention and interest of readers. As a predecessor to a first trip to Haiti, I found this book extremely useful in an understanding of the people and the poor state of medical care in Haiti. An excellent choice for both those recently becoming familiar with this fascinating country and experts alike.
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