"If you, or one of your loved ones has a complex, chronic illness, you need to read this book. An analyst of the highest caliber, Randolph Pherson, teaches you how to take charge of your own healthcare in an organized, structured way. Follow Pherson's advice: if both the doctor and the patient ask a lot of questions toget a complete picture, then, chances are, you will discover the true diagnosis."
―Dr. Jeanne Shiffman, Well Being-Being Well, Integrative and Family Medicine Practice

"Mr. Pherson deftly applies his decades of experience practicing, developing, and teaching the art of intelligence to the life and death issue of accurate medical diagnoses. This book provides a practical roadmap for partnering with medical professionals to solve non-obvious medical challenges. It is a must read for medical professionals to ensure they are challenging their assumptions and considering alternative scenarios. And a must read as well for anyone facing a seemingly undiagnosable, but potentially life-threatening, medical issue."
― Fran Moore, former Director of Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency

"Doctors want to be thought of as all-knowing, but they cannot be all-knowing, since the screening testing they prescribe often leaves a large level of doubt. Physicians should offer more information to the patient specific to that level of doubt, but often, they do not take the time to explain "false normals" that can occur at rates as high as 20 percent. Randy's story is a great example of why all of us, as patients, need to demand full disclosure on all medical testing and insist on clear answers about tests that are not perfect."
― Doug Boyink, MD, Fellow, American College of Emergency Physicians

"This book should be read by everyone. Pherson's techniques are used across the intelligence community. They should be used by you as well to make the medical system respond to your needs and pay attention to your problems."
―Charles E. Allen, former Assistant Director of Central Intelligence for Collection, CIA, and Former Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, Department of Homeland Security

"Pherson applies, in a novel and personal way, the critical thinking and tradecraft knowledge he has gained in the intelligence world to improving the diagnostic skills of the medical profession. His book is a must read for an increasingly time-starved and hyper-specialised medical profession. It is a useful resource for patients seeking better health advocacy with their doctors."
―Patrick F. Walsh, Associate Professor, Charles Sturt University, Australia

★This book once topped Amazon US’s #1 Bestseller in Men's Health! It is designed to help readers obtain the accurate medical diagnoses you need—and deserve—making it a precision medical diagnostic guide for each of us and every family.
★Randolph H. Pherson, a professional intelligence analysis expert and critical thinking specialist, draws on his extensive expertise in information gathering, investigation, and analysis, his powerful critical thinking skills, and his personal experience with misdiagnosis. By integrating these insights into the field of medical diagnosis and sharing his practical experience in navigating the healthcare system, he offers invaluable knowledge that could potentially save lives.

Get the Correct Medical Diagnosis You Need and Deserve

Many know from experience that getting an accurate medical diagnosis can be difficult. Take it from Randy Pherson, who struggled with a medical condition for five years before getting a proper diagnosis―and once he did, had to undergo a major surgery to save his life.

◎ Learn how to navigate the healthcare system.
Although Fesen’s ordeal is heartbreaking, it is far from unique. He decided to help others facing similar challenges. Drawing on the research, analysis, and evidence-gathering skills he honed during his time as a senior intelligence officer at the CIA, Fesen shares precise analytical techniques that can empower you to use the healthcare system to your advantage—and even to save your life.

◎ Lessons that could save your life.
Given the sheer volume of patients that doctors and medical staff see every day, getting the care you deserve can be far from straightforward. Fesen highlights several personal stories of individuals who have tried, with varying degrees of success, to navigate the healthcare system. Using their experiences as examples, Fesen underscores the value of their insights and shares critical lessons that could potentially save lives.

◎ In this book, you will discover:
√ 16 practical tips for navigating the healthcare system;
√ How to better describe your pain and what specific questions to ask your doctor;
√ Techniques to promote accurate diagnoses and strategies for overcoming obstacles when seeking treatment;
√ Tips for building an effective partnership with your doctor.

If self-help and medical books such as “Laboratory Values,” “Diagnosis,” “How to Be a Patient,” “How Doctors Think,” “The Doctor Will See You Now,” or “The Patient Will See You Now” have been valuable to you, then this book is the next one you need.

Randolph Pherson
Randolph Pherson is a former senior CIA analyst and manager who has written ten books on intelligence analysis. Most are now being used by intelligence analysts in the United States and in over two dozen countries to improve their critical thinking, writing, and briefing skills. Mr. Pherson last served at CIA as a National Intelligence Officer in the National Intelligence Council. For over a decade since retiring, his company has been developing and teaching analytic techniques and critical thinking skills throughout the intelligence, homeland security, and defense communities as well as in the private sector. Mr. Pherson is the recipient of the Distinguished Intelligence Medal for his service as NIO for Latin America and the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal. He has an A.B. from Dartmouth College and a M.A. in International Relations from Yale University.

From the Author
I was a victim of medical misdiagnosis, and I am in good company. According to a report issued in 2015 by the Institute of Medicine, as many as 12 million Americans may be receiving erroneous or late diagnoses every year.
I began my search for a diagnosis when I started having trouble breathing while running. Over five years, I received treatment from a dozen doctors representing six different specialties--all of whom failed to identify what was causing my problem. I asked many questions and learned a lot about how poorly--and at times, how well--the medical care industry functions in the United States. I condensed these experiences into 16 actions you can take to improve the quality of your health care:
·Five questions you should always ask your doctor.
·Five obstacles you should expect to encounter.
·Six tips for increasing your chances of getting a solid diagnosis and receiving timely treatment. .I was very lucky. My hope is that people will read this book and live to tell their stories because they applied some of the lessons I learned during my journey.

Foreword by Sandy Ibrahim, MD

By the time Randy Pherson walked into my office, I had run out of diagnostic testing options that would explain his ever-persistent shortness of breath. Unfortunately, every path led to a dead end. So, I fell back to asking that old school question: "Does Randy exhibit a strange sense of impending doom?"

Asking that question likely saved his life that day. Randy was tired, frustrated, andat the end of his rope. I told him to drive immediately to an emergency room.

Randy and I are grateful that one emergency room doctor listened--although it took a lot of prodding. Physicians should encourage patients to tell their story instead of just responding to their questions. Doctors need to learn how to personally engage. It could prove the difference between life and death.

With Randy, the objective findings did not match the subjective complaints, but I saw him often for well and sick visits. That knowledge buttressed my confidence that something was very wrong, Doomsday wrong. This book is Randy's story of persistence, physical adaptation, and lessons learned in his (and our) journey through the pitfalls of modern medicine. I am grateful he is here to share his story with all of you."