Patients and Doctors: Life-Changing Stories from Primary Care

ANNOTATION

The book contains no figures.

In this book, physicians from around the world share stories of the patients they'll never forget, patients who have changed the way they practice medicine. Their thoughtful reflections on a variety of themes - from suffering to humor to death - help readers understand the experience of doctoring, in all its ordinary and extraordinary aspects.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In Patients and Doctors, physicians from around the world share stories of the patients they'll never forget, patients who have changed the way they practice medicine. Their thoughtful reflections on a variety of themes - from suffering to humor to death - help us understand the experience of doctoring, in all its ordinary and extraordinary aspects.

FROM THE CRITICS

Thomas G. DeWitt

In this book, scholarly reflections are combined with succinct stories of patient care experiences written by primary care physicians from around the world. In the editors' own words, this book represents an ""effort to further the narrative trend in medicine and ...share the intimate mysteries of our [physicians'] work."" Although the editors do not explicitly state that the book is for physicians in training, the structure and comments implicitly identify them as a target population. At the same time, many other readers, whether lay or medical, would appreciate the insights into the humanness of physicians. The structure of the book consists of ten chapters, each with an introductory, well referenced discussion followed by several very short stories of patient encounters by an array of physician authors. These chapters cover a spectrum of topics from suffering and shame to family and community to humor and, inevitably, to death. The writing is variable, from the somewhat tedious introductory reflections to the simple but clear writing of the stories. The reflections at times seem overly academic or redundant, especially since the patient encounters speak profoundly for themselves. The powerful stories of ""Grace,"" telling of a patient's gift of grace, and ""The Next Generation,"" telling of the fatal neglect of a profoundly dysfunctional family, are but two examples. Unique in content and format, through this book the editors offer the reader many gems, many brief insights into the personal world of physicians, their patients, and the care of those patients. There are successes and failures, good writing and poor, but in the aggregate this book is well worth reading whetherone is beginning or ending a career in medicine, or anywhere in between.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer: Thomas G. DeWitt, MD (University of Cincinnati School of Medicine)Description: In this book, scholarly reflections are combined with succinct stories of patient care experiences written by primary care physicians from around the world. Purpose: In the editors' own words, this book represents an "effort to further the narrative trend in medicine and ...share the intimate mysteries of our [physicians'] work." Audience: Although the editors do not explicitly state that the book is for physicians in training, the structure and comments implicitly identify them as a target population. At the same time, many other readers, whether lay or medical, would appreciate the insights into the humanness of physicians. Features: The structure of the book consists of ten chapters, each with an introductory, well referenced discussion followed by several very short stories of patient encounters by an array of physician authors. These chapters cover a spectrum of topics from suffering and shame to family and community to humor and, inevitably, to death. The writing is variable, from the somewhat tedious introductory reflections to the simple but clear writing of the stories. The reflections at times seem overly academic or redundant, especially since the patient encounters speak profoundly for themselves. The powerful stories of "Grace," telling of a patient's gift of grace, and "The Next Generation," telling of the fatal neglect of a profoundly dysfunctional family, are but two examples. Assessment: Unique in content and format, through this book the editors offer the reader many gems, many brief insights into the personal world of physicians, their patients, and the care of those patients. There are successes and failures, good writing and poor, but in the aggregate this book is well worth reading whether one is beginning or ending a career in medicine, or anywhere in between.

Booknews

Physicians from around the world provide philosophical, pithy, and poetic stories of the remarkable and challenging patients or situations that changed the way they practice medicine. Stories are divided into ten sections addressing suffering and shame, learning from patients, death, secrets, illness in the doctor's family, and other themes. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

RATING

3 Stars from Doody

ACCREDITATION