Elisabeth Rosenthal is a Harvard-educated former physician, former New York Times reporter, and a medical researcher. She eventually pivoted to investigative journalism, which gave her the inspiration to write this book. Both Rosenthal and her father were physicians, which she argues gives her a unique vantage point from which she witnessed massive changes in the healthcare industry. While some may be skeptical of Rosenthal’s ability to be unbiased due to her past career as a doctor, she uses this background to critique her peers and the industry that shaped her. It allows her to break down complex medical jargon for readers who are less well versed in the field. Having served as both doctor and patient, she is able to identify certain dynamics that keep patients less knowledgeable, thus making her belief in individual power all the more potent. As of 2021, Rosenthal is the editor in chief of Kaiser Health News.