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00:15:23 TZ; Health: There are seven million people who can't read in America, according to the National Institute for Literacy. GR; Literacy statistics. I; Monica Baxley, spoke about being illiterate, says she never went to the doctor. V; Newspapers. V; Kellogg's cereal display in supermarket. V; Ballot box. V; Medical forms. SB; Dr. David Baker, Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University, says it's a life and death issue, literacy affects your health. SB; Toni Cordell-Seiple, film producer, spoke about agreeing to a hysterectomy because she couldn't read, courtesy American Medical Association. SB; Betty Walker, says being illiterate paralyzed her with fear, courtesy American Medical Association. SB; Sandra Baxter, National Institute for Literacy, says it can be a big cost economically and healthwise. V; Country Oaks Learning Center Library. Pierre Thomas reporting. 00:17:59

[CC] 00:17:37 ... "My health is poor now, but I really believe that's because I never went to the doctor." "It's a life and death issue. Literacy affects your health in so many different ways." The American Medical Association Foundation surveyed patients who could not read. This woman signed a form she could not understand, agreeing to a hysterectomy without knowing it. " My mouth fell open and I thought to myself, how could I be so stupid as to allow somebody to take part of my body and I didn't know it." Reporter: Another woman described the stress of a doctor's visit. I t's paralyzing to think you maysay something or something is put before you to read. And you cannot read it. It's a tremendous problem when you think about the costs for us, economically, heath-wise. Reporter: Undiagnosed learning disorders, poverty, unstable home life are all factors contributing to illiteracy. Monica Baxley finally learned to read at age 41 and now spends time helping others. I believe with all of my heart there are others out there just like me. Millions living in the shadows. Pierre Thomas, ABC News, Chipley, Florida. You can find information about literacy programs near you on our website. 00:20:37

00:35:14 Tattoos: The American Medical Association wants people to be careful where they go to get tattoos done. V; Tattoos shown. 00:35:36

00:17:41 TZ; Prescriptions: A controversial plan would allow pharmacists to write and fill prescriptions. V; Pharmacy interior. V; Pills. V; Vicks 44 Cough Medicine. V; Scope Mouthwash. V; Pepto Bismol. V; FDA Headquarters interior. I; Steve Giroux, Pharmacist, says that pharmacists will be allowed to sell medications that are relatively safe to use. V; Pharmacist. I; Dr. Rebecca Patchin, American Medical Association, says pharmacists are not trained in the clinical side of medicine. I; James Appleby, American Pharmacists Association, says they hope that insurers will take the long view on covering behind-the-counter medicines. Dr. Mallika Marshall reporting. 00:19:52

00:34:03 ... that do this. The American Medical Association has the seventh floor in Chicago, International Division, and they have a list of all organizations that employ and use physicians overseas. ... American Medical Association headquarters office in Chicago, and you know, who knows, if you volunteer and you happen to the right age category, which is what? This year from fifty four and upwards. Oh, young welks for crying out loud. You could become and ageless hero just like the good doctor here. Thanks to Blue Cross Blue Shield for recognizing these people. Contact Blue Cross Blue Shield any time you want to with nominees. That's right. AZblue.com/agelesshero. It's that simple. 00:38:55

[CC] 00:15:17 ... The American Medical Association Foundation surveyed patients who could not read. This woman signed a form she could not understand, agreeing to a hysterectomy without knowing it. " My mouth fell open and I thought to myself, how could I be so stupid as to allow somebody to take part of my body and I didn't know it." Another woman described the stress of a doctor's visit. "It paralyzes you, your thoughts, completely to think that you may say something, or something is put before you to read and you can't read it." "It's a tremendous problem when you think about the costs for us economically, health wise. Undiagnosed learning disorders, poverty, unstable home life are all factors contributing to illiteracy. Monica Baxley finally learned to read at age 41 and now spends time helping others. " I know there are others like me." Millions living in the shadows. Pierre Thomas, ABC News, Chipley, Florida. A staggering number of Americans cannot read, and it takes a huge personal and public toll. 7 million people are completely illiterate: they cannot read words. 27 million cannot complete a job application. And 30 million cannot read a simple sentence. 00:18:17

[CC] 00:44:03 Listen up, a new study finds those on combined hormone therapy are more likely to have abnormal breast biopsies. That news tops this morning's 4 in your Corner Medical Report. An abnormal mammogram is one where the radiologist finds a mass and distortion. It doesn't necessarily mean you have breast cancer, it just means doctors need to do further tests, like a biopsy. Researchers say one reason behind the new findings may be because hormone use sometimes makes breasts denser. Denser breasts can make mammograms difficult to read, so doctors sometimes call for additional testing. The study appears in Monday's issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the American Medical Association's journals. 00:45:14

[CC] 00:25:54 The American Medical Association is speaking out against a largely hidden crisis in America: illiteracy. Seven million people are completely illiterate and can't read any words. That means not being able to fill out a job application, read road signs or vote. But researchers are now discovering many patients avoid going to the doctor, as well, for fear of filling out medical forms or reading prescriptions, and that can be dangerous. "It's a life and death issue. Literacy affects your health in so many different ways." ... 00:28:54

[CC] 01:00:05 The American Medical Association is speaking out against a largely hidden crisis in America: illiteracy. Seven million people are completely illiterate and can't read any words. That means not being able to fill out a job application, read road signs or vote. ... 01:03:05

[CC] 00:08:22 ... Unable to read a newspaper or food labels in a supermarket. She never voted in an election. Baxley: "I didn't know who or what to vote for." Avoiding the doctor, out of fear she should would have to fill out a medical form or read a prescription. Baxley: " My health is poor now, but I really believe that's because I never went to the doctor." Baker: "It's a life and death issue. Literacy ... different ways." The American Medical Association Foundation surveyed patients who could not read. This woman signed a form she could not understand, agreeing to a hysterectomy without knowing it. Cordell: "My mouth fell open and I thought to myself, how could I be so stupid as to allow somebody to take part of my body and I didn't know it." Another woman described the stress of a doctor's visit. Walker: "It paralyzes you, your every thought completely, to think that you may say something, or something is put before you to read and you can't read it." Baxter: "It's a tremendous problem when you think about the costs for us economically, health wise." Undiagnosed learning disorders, poverty, unstable home life are all factors contributing to illiteracy. Monica Baxley finally learned to read at age 41 and now spends time helping others. " I know there are others like me." Millions living in the shadows. 00:11:22

[CC] 00:14:51 A new study says more then 7-million Americans are completely illiterate, unable to read a single word. The same study says 30 million cannot read a simple sentence. The hidden problem can have serious personal, professional and implications. The American Medical Association Foundation surveyed patients who could not read and discovered one woman signed a form she could not understand, agreeing to a hysterectomey without knowing. The study found undiagnosed learning disorders, poverty, and unstable home life are all factors contributing to illiteracy. 00:17:51

[CC] 00:06:05 ABC's Pierre Thomas on living in the shadows. The impact of so many people. For nearly all of her of 45 years, Monica Baxley has lived with a crippling secret. Baxley: "I cried a lot over this when I was alone." Baxley was functionally illiterate. She quit school in the 9th grade and for three decades kept her secret from friends, family, even her husband. Baxley: "I didn't want to be exposed beyond anything else. That was the most important thing, for no one to ever learn." Her travel was limited because she was unable to read road signs. Unable to read a newspaper or food labels in a supermarket. She never voted in an election. Baxley: "I didn't know who or what to vote for." Avoiding the doctor, out of fear she should would have to fill out a medical form or read a prescription. Baxley: "My health is poor now, but I really believe that's because I never went to the doctor." "It's a life and death issue. Literacy affects your health in so many different ways." The American Medical Association Foundation surveyed patients who could not read. This woman signed a form she could not understand, agreeing to a hysterectomy without knowing it. " My mouth fell open and I thought to myself, how could I be so stupid as to allow somebody to take part of my body and I didn't know it." ... 00:09:05