Doctor Bison's Fables: An Allegory of the American Pain Refugee Crisis Paperback – November 10, 2023

This very light-hearted (at times) story sheds light on the often-overlooked struggles of those navigating the pain refugee crisis, a pressing issue that has become very personal to my family. It looks at it through an empathetic and thought-provoking lens. Each "fable" provides both a mirror reflecting societal shortcomings and a beacon of hope, showing the resilience of the human spirit in the face of mountains that climb above the clouds. (And with adorable illustrations too!)This complex issue is made accessible through the story of caring Dr. Bison, a doctor who just wants to help his patients. Not too much to ask, is it? Well, it is—not just in this fictional story, but in our healthcare system today. This story doesn’t just entertain, it transforms. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand the pain that others experience better through the enduring power of empathy. Which should be everyone.

This allegorical book was both fun and poignant. Cleverly told from animal's perspectives it bears a sweet innocence while telling a tragic story.There is a rhythmic musicality of the writing style which sustains a peaceful flow throughout the book: "Dawn spread her thin fingers of mist across the rolling grass of the plains, bringing with it a steady wind to drive away the smoke."And.."The lake swept out before him, impossibly blue, ringed by massive, vibrant green pines and firs. And beyond that, a ring of jagged, primordial rock thrust up into the crystal sky."I enjoyed reading Dr. Ibsen's book. It is unique and deep, even mystical at times. In real life, just as the heroic bison in the book, the author is still fighting to help sick people who live in pain while championing the doctors who have suffered needlessly just for treating those in pain. The book's hero fights for the return of the sacred doctor/patient relationship, begging all who read it's pages to see and understand the frightening and deadly losing battle that is happening under everyone's noses. Will the world and it's leaders wake up in time before there are no doctors left who care or will the sleepy public continue to lazily fiddle while Rome burns? Dr. Ibsen captures the present war between big government and doctors who are only trying to practice medicine. But rather than painfully beating the reader over the head with yet another tale of this world's woes, he gets his point across by immersing us into a magical world of enchanting characters.

I will reread this again. Why? To absorb and lavish in the truth. It’s refreshing and heartwarming to “feel” the calling of one man’s journey to self discovery. For me it IS CRPS that stopped me dead in my tracks and forced me inward where my truth lived. For Dr Ibsen, it was the crisis of pain management and his inability to have the authority to serve his patients as he deemed necessary.We are blessed to have as our advocate a man with such loving conviction for those of us who on a daily basis suffer from intractable pain. His journey was uniquely his, yet in so many ways, our journey of discovery has been eerily similar. Thank you Dr Bryan Bison for not giving up and for continuing this amazing work. I stand with you committed by my own convictions.

If you suffer or have suffered from the medical industries pull back of pain medications then this book is for you. If you are a provider of health care then this book is for you. If you are a pharmacist or pain Dr. or primary care physician then this book is for you. I think I felt every emotion in reading, from humor to anger, which is how you know a book or movie is truly great. But its learning of the injustices being imposed on doctors and patients due to the pain medication reel back. I couldn't help but fall in love with Dr. Ibsen in reading the pages as, though written as satire fiction of a Bison Doctor treating animals in his community, are a reference to real people who really were, are, persecuted by politicians and law makers, with their war on pain meds and those who prescribe them. As someone living with intractible pain from a spinal injury which developed into Adhesive Arachnoiditis, I'm desperate for pain relief. Dr. Ibsen and doctors like him are heros to me. In helping those in need, they should not have to endure government law suits, license to practice withdrawn and jail. Thank you Dr. Ibsen and I wish you success in your quest to change the medical industry and government mandates and manhunts. Carl

Using a fabel format was a creative way of calling attention to the problems of pain management and addiction, while working within a law regulated industry. It additionally was a nice way of documenting the author's personal experiences as a doctor. Overall, I enjoyed the story. The only thing I find myself wondering about is treating mental illness brought about by medication addiction. Perhaps that will be a sequel for Dr. Bison.

I enjoyed reading Dr. Ibsen’s new book, Dr. Bison’s Fables.What happened to healthcare in America? How did modern medical miracles morph into the maze of confusion and expense we run into when we get sick and desperately seek out help? Where have all the hometown doctors gone?Dr. Bison's Fables is both whimsical and inspiring rather than a tiring place to find some answers to these vital questions. Neither political rant nor emotional tantrum, the offbeat animal characters who populate the tales in this book were born out of one man’s attempt to put “the catastrophic events for my patients and me over the last 10+ years” in perspective. The actual events that prompted this book included being “selected as the best doctor in Helena in 2014, and being put out of business by 2015” for no real reason.Dr. Ibsen’s prescription for better health is to “restore the sacred bond between physician and patient” where both parties enter into a relationship based on trust and a willingness to explore together the options available for healing.I salute you. Bravo Dr. Ibsen, we need more like you.