Controversies in Medicine and Neuroscience: Through the Prism of History, Neurobiology and Bioethics Hardcover – March 23, 2023

I have known Miguel for a very long time. He is a brilliant neurosurgeon, exceptional writer and has written a great number of incredible opinion pieces as well as books on an array of medical subjects. His latest book, Controversies in Medicine and Neuroscience, is the best of all, which is saying a lot, as all his books are expertly researched and written. This books is special for several reasons. First, it is divided into several sections: a scientific section, historical sections and a brilliant analysis of collectivism in medicine as well as the major things that are wrong with the actual practice of medicine. Having a special interest in neuropsychiatry, he explores the functions of several major anatomical areas of the human brain. What makes this special is that he is not a reductionist in his thinking and he is not a materialists. Yet, as a good scientists he understands the function of the anatomical areas of the human brain and how they interrelate. As an undergraduate student he studied psychology and demonstrates a remarkable understanding of the major psychiatric aberration of the personality. Being a neurosurgeon and one also interested in the very same functions of the brain, I found his discussions of anatomical functions very well stated without resorting to scientific jargon, except where needed. He was very familiar with Dr. Eric Kandel, a groundbreaking pioneer in the function of this living machinery. Like me, he sees the brain as a very complex receiver and not the origin of thought, much like a radio. In other word there is the brain and there is the “mind”, which is not anatomical. He also has a great interest in violence and brain function. The brain has a very complex anatomical structure controlling violence, also under the control of free-will, and he has a deep understanding of this connection. Importantly, the prefrontal cortex also regulates psychological impulses and when released, these uncontrolled impulses are release to “act on their own”. Alcohol, as I tell many people, does not make a person do anything, it releases the orbitofrontal cortex (prefrontal cortex) which controls these reflex-controlled violence pathways. This prefrontal area, as he explains, also tells a person the consequences of their intended action. The alcohol and drugs release this and allow the person to do what they truly want to do, free of consequences, in their mind. Miguel reviews many of the brain’s secrets that were solved by medical sleuthing and careful scientific study. Interestingly, he was a friend of the historical scholar Plinio Prireschi, Md, PhD., who spoke and read several ancient languages and had written a several volume compilation of medical history. In Part 4, he discusses a very important topic that is all but forgotten by the medical profession—medical ethics. He compares traditional medical ethics with what has now dominated the medical world—bioethics. In the recent past, all physicians upon graduation from medical school took the Hippocratic oath, compiled by the Greek philosopher and physician—Hippocrates. Basically, it says that as a physician, one’s concern should always be with the patient and not the state. This is no longer the principle we follow—rather we follow bioethics and he succinctly defines and discusses the two. In conduction with this he discusses the importance of religious morality, which is inseparable. One of the really strong points of the book is his discussion, in depth, of “Controversies in Health Policy—Corporate Socialized Medicine. This not only should be read by all physicians but people in general as well. He destroys many of the myths circulated by the medical collectivists and reviews true fee-for-service. I have had many general practitioners tell me that they would gladly charge each patient a $100 flat fee, and see the patient for all conditions for that year. That would solve the problem of cost. He next discusses in this remarkable book a chapter dedicated to plagues and epidemics in history. A truly a very interesting chapter. He covers, in separate chapters, hygiene and sanitation and their role in drastically reducing disease and in raising the life span of the average person, and he discusses the pestilential diseases. I really enjoyed this chapter. The pharmaceutical companies spread among doctors the lie that vaccine ended death caused the great epidemics. In truth, it was the advances in hygiene, as virtually all books on public heath state until recently, stated boldly. The final chapter is a gracious discussion of the book written by eminent neurosurgeon Dr. James Ausman and myself, also a neurosurgeon. It should be read alongside my series of articles appearing in Surgical Neurology International on this very subject. The articles and book has been read internationally. We now have proof that the virus as intentionally created by traitors in this country working with the Chinese community party and that the vaccine has actually killed over eight-times as many as were killed by the virus itself, this time even among the young and among pregnant women.This book is well worth reading and studying. It should be standard on all doctor’s bookshelves and among the interested layman.

Dr. Miguel Faria is a neurosurgeon, neuroscientist, historian, author, political analyst, and editor of multiple journals. Despite all of this, he makes himself readily accessible to the general public through his website and Facebook page, both of which he maintains with impressive professional decorum. His latest book, Controversies in Medicine and Neuroscience: Through the Prism of History, Neurobiology, and Bioethics [Cambridge Scholars Publishing] is just one more absolute masterpiece that I recommend to any medical professional; MD, PhD, RN, PT, etc. This reviewer already shares his ideology, but perhaps those in opposition might see it differently. He makes his case on many currently volatile topics with grace and great persuasion. The author also doesn’t talk down to his readers.. While I do think that readers with more advanced degrees in the biomedical sciences or medicine may be able to glean deeper meaning from some of the chapters, readers hardly need any particular formal degree to understand exactly what point he is making.The book is divided into 27 chapters, all of which treat issues in neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, general medicine, medical politics, and medical history. All of these issues are still under debate, but what divides them is their current state of practical vs. academic importance. It will ultimately be up to the individual reader’s taste which of these 27 chapters they will be most inclined to read. This is the type of book I personally prefer, because the chapters may be read out of sequence, since no chapter is dependent on knowledge of the previous ones to understand it. I picked my favorite topics to read first. Controversies in Medicine and Neuroscience: Through the Prism of History, Neurobiology, and Bioethics 27 chapters that may be somewhat arbitrarily divided into several distinct current and historical medical and scientific issues. The only caveat here is that while one may skip around to find chapters that are of the most interest to them, the book is divided into several main themes, which means a reader should at least study all the chapters that fall under the same theme as the one they originally picked to read. My personal interests include the intersection of medical and neurological disease with the history of Soviet Russia, so naturally I enjoyed the chapter on Stalin’s death immensely.I did not mean to imply it wouldn’t make good reading for anyone who has interest in any of the subjects covered, but because this is a limited academic edition, anyone who wants to read this book should order it from Amazon immediately. Given the popularity of the author’s previous books sold from Amazon, I don’t think it will be long before all the copies will be bought.

Dr. Miguel Faria is a world renowned neurosurgeon and also a historian and author who brilliantly lays out layers of information for the reader to absorb.Controversies in Neuroscience and Medicine is a powerful source of knowledge about the brain, including the earliest known surgeries of the brain by primitive man to the current modern techniques this book should be in the possession of every doctor!I am not a physician but I certainly enjoyed reading about the evolving aspects of the medical treatment of issues involving the brain.I learned a lot and it was refreshing to follow Dr. Faria's dialogue from early man's attempts to release demons by boring a hole in the skull, to reading about the plants of the gods. There is much to discover about certain classes of hallucinogenic drugs and the plants they are derived from, and some may be poisonous in large doses but may actually treat various disorders when used correctly by an experienced physician.This book covers so much material and the author has a masterful touch from beginning to end and makes it very interesting and easy to understand as he unlocks secrets of medicine that I never dreamed of learning.A true classic blending of medicine and history resulting in a very good read.