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520 reviews for:
Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande
Atul Gawande, Atul Gawande
4.21 AVERAGE
520 reviews for:
Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande
Atul Gawande, Atul Gawande
4.21 AVERAGE
LOVED IT. The essays about the culture of medicine and how doctors come to act the way they do were especially fascinating.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
tense
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma
Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma
I read this book to gain some insight into my husband's future profession.
It was entertaining and readable with a good mix of engaging stories and honest reflections into modern medicine.
It was entertaining and readable with a good mix of engaging stories and honest reflections into modern medicine.
I'm currently reading/reviewing this book for an educational stats class. I'm curious to see how it'll be incorporated in the class content.
This book takes away as much of the mystery surrounding modern medicine as it adds back to it. Dr. Gawande presents several stories and case studies from his years of surgical residency, and adds to them the insight that only an insider would have. He lets us know that doctors are far from infallible, and sometimes medical professionals just don't know what to do. But at the same time, a physician can develop a sort of sixth sense and some unconscious clue will push them towards the correct decision, thus saving a patient's life. An interesting, well-written book that is recommended for anyone with an interest in medicine.
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
If you read one book about modern medicine, make it this one.
I wish for more patients, or future patients, to read this book and think about it. My own experience as a patient and patient-advocate has been that the patient must always ask questions, and if the questions aren't answered to the satisfaction of the patient, it's time to get a new doctor. Doctors don't know everything and aren't perfect, and that is OK.
Of course, I knew all this well before reading the book, but Gawande's literary skills are sufficient to make even my jaded old ass stay interested.
Of course, I knew all this well before reading the book, but Gawande's literary skills are sufficient to make even my jaded old ass stay interested.
excellent! we often look at our doctors as somehow infallible - as more than human. but that's not true - they make mistakes, just like the rest of us. partly because of circumstances, partly because they can't know everything, mostly because the human body is complex and each case is different. but the good doctors - and they are mostly good - try. the learn what they can, apply previous experience, listen to their patients. gawande walks us thru multiple cases - some that go well, and others that don't. he reminds us that medicine is an imperfect science, but that it's the best we've got. a must read for doctors and patients.