Health-care advocates bring new book to Stratford

Co-authors Mike McCarthy, a leading Canadian patient advocate and Michael Decter, a Canadian health policy expert and former Ontario deputy minister of health, are coming to Stratford on Sept. 24 to discuss their new book, The Canadian Health Care Guerrilla Handbook: How to Fight for What You Need.

By: Amanda Nelson

Co-authors Michael Decter, a Canadian health-policy expert and former Ontario deputy minister of health, and Mike McCarthy, a leading Canadian patient advocate, are coming to Stratford on Sept. 24 to talk about their new book, The Canadian Health Care Guerrilla Handbook: How to Fight for What You Need.

The book launch will take place on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Grayson Mills, located at 114 Erie St., downtown Stratford.

The free event will focus on a subject affecting families throughout the region: how to navigate Canada’s health-care system, advocate for yourself and support loved ones through difficult care journeys.

The book brings together Decter’s decades of experience working inside Canada’s health-care system and McCarthy’s decades of patient advocacy.

“This book isn't about how to fix a health-care system,” said Sarah Hanlon, public relations. “It's about how people can navigate it and get what they need out of the health-care system where it's at today.”

The book is told through personal patient stories and explores how families navigate the Canadian health-care system, as McCarthy himself had to do.

Living with hemophilia, McCarthy played a central role in the fight for justice following Canada’s tainted blood scandal and has continued advocating for improved patient access and better health-care policy.

The book offers tools and a checklist to help families navigate one of the hardest parts of their lives, in some cases.

“The book is a practical tool for people who are facing frustrations or just need practical advice, but it’s also a good perspective giver for those in the health-care field to hear stories and be able to come together and see what resources are there,” said Hanlon. “Some of the solutions are already out there. It’s just about finding what those are and communicating that to the public.”

Since its release, the book has reached number one in the Health Care Current Events category, generated national media coverage and drawn audiences at events across the country.

Both Decter and McCarthy will be available to sign copies of the book at the event.