The Soul of Medicine: Tales from the Bedside PDF

Rating: (13 reviews) Author: Sherwin B. Nuland ISBN : Product Detai New from $4.10 Format: PDF

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From Publishers Weekly

National Book Award–winner Nuland (How We Die) turns over his latest collection to the stories of more than a dozen specialists describing their most memorable patients. What is extraordinary about Nuland's compilation is not the medical heroics but the instances of fallibility and vulnerability that prove the doctor is not just human but caring. A bronchoscopist tells of a famed thoracic surgeon who botches a procedure to recover a small cap a child has swallowed Well, chappies, he chirped, here's my chance to demonstrate the procedure again. Rather like a double feature at the cinema, yes? When that, too, fails, the frustrated surgeon must do major surgery to rectify what should have been a 10-minute fix. Even the scoundrel who gets a nurse fired rather than be caught in his own impropriety shows a recognizable humanity in his hilarious retelling of barging into a procedure unwashed and unwanted, and being chased from the premises by a mad-as-hell surgeon. Nuland adds his own commentary after many of the stories, but it's just window dressing. Here's medicine as it's actually practiced—by humans awed by the privilege of both their practice and patients. (Apr.)
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From Booklist

Nuland takes the Canterbury Tales one quirky step further with these stories he collected from medical specialists ranging from anesthesiologist to urologist, in which each focuses on a particularly difficult or memorable professional event and/or patient. Identities and locations are carefully concealed by placing just about everyone, unless the story hinges on locale, at a teaching hospital called Canterbury. Names are changed, and not just to protect the innocent. No one really needs to know the identity of the randy young chest surgeon whose regular dalliances with hospital “probies” (probationary female employees) nearly cost him his job. Worse, to save his own skin, the scoundrel made a preemptive attack that cost his accuser her job. One might, however, like to know the name of the ethical Jewish ophthalmologist who never ratted out the out-of-wedlock pregnant daughter of his racist military superior. In all, the tales indeed resemble Chaucer’s—some humorous, others poignant, and where they are cryptic, accompanied by a note from the more-than-skillful narrator. --Donna Chavez --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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• Product Details
• Table of Contents
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• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Kaplan Publishing; 1 edition (March 30, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1607146630
• ASIN: B006LWE6X8
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces

The Soul of Medicine: Tales from the Bedside PDF

In "The Soul of Medicine," Dr. Sherwin Nuland has collected reminiscences from a variety of doctors, offering "a sort of Canterbury Tales of medicine." Each chapter is written in the first person by a particular specialist in such fields as neurology, nephrology, pediatrics, and anesthesiology. In some cases, Nuland follows up with a commentary of his own. Some of the stories are tragic and others comical, but all are thought-provoking. Certain facts have been altered to disguise the identity of the people involved. However, the author assures us that the cases and medical details are accurate.

This is fascinating overview of the significant changes that have revolutionized the practice of medicine in the last half century. With MRIs, PET and CAT scans, and other advanced tools at their disposal, physicians are better equipped to make diagnoses that in the past might have eluded them. Of course, conscientious practitioners still take careful medical histories and conduct thorough physical examinations. In addition, they try to keep in mind the crucial role of communication and mutual respect between healer and patient. The anecdotes in this book demonstrate that, although most doctors are hard-working and dedicated people who take their awesome responsibilities seriously, they are also flawed human beings who, at times, make costly mistakes. The best among them, on the other hand, heroically fight to restore their patients to good health. Nuland adds that, in the last three decades or so, an ever increasing number of women have been entering medical school. We no longer hear that it is futile to educate female physicians who will inevitably drop out to have a family.