It seems to me that if a person has refused to follow the suggestion of her medical professional, it ought to be a standard practice on the part of the doctor to learn why. Consulting with the individual, an alternative course of therapy might be the answer.

Louisa Clark has never seen such an array of medicines other than in a pharmacy. After introducing Louisa (Lou) to the apothecarial responsibilities, Nathan, the unflappable nurse, explains that the patient may need a little help in getting the medicines down.

I'm not going to share the details of my personal experience, but I will tell you that second opinions are a great way to avoid unnecessary medical procedures. A second opinion probably saved my life years ago, and I am now skeptical any time I hear someone talk about surgery.

Unfortunately, there is not a single, quick solution to this challenging public health issue. Rather, it will take a sustained, collective effort across multiple sectors.