This is a stunningly well-written account of the life of a surgeon: what it is like to cut into people's bodies and the terrifying - literally life and death - decisions that have to be made.There are accounts of operations that go wrong; of doctors who go to the bad; why autopsies are necessary; what it feels like to insert your knife into someone.
Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science
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Amazon Review
Gently dismantling the myth of medical infallibility, Dr Atul Gawande's Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science is essential reading for anyone involved in medicine--on either end of the stethoscope. Medical professionals make mistakes, learn on the job and improvise much of their technique and self-confidence. Gawande's tales are humane and passionate reminders that doctors are people, too. His prose is thoughtful and deeply engaging, shifting from sometimes-painful stories of suffering patients (including his own child) to intriguing suggestions for improving medicine with the same care he expresses in the surgical theatre. Some of his ideas will make health-care providers nervous or even angry, but his disarming style, confessional tone and thoughtful arguments should win over most readers. Complications is a book with heart and an excellent bedside manner, celebrating rather than berating doctors for being merely human. --Rob Lightner
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"'Gawande draws you in with the story but leaves you wiser about science, about health, and even about the human condition.' Michael Kinsley 'Ever wondered how realistic ER is? Then read Gawande's superb book. The truth, you will find, is far more compelling, though the endings are never as neat...Gawande makes the scenes far more dramatic than television ever can. He is a first-class writer.' Scotland on Sunday 'Written as tautly as a thriller.' The Observer 'I don't know if Atul Gawande was born to be a surgeon - I very much suspect so - but he was certainly born to write. This wise and exciting account of life as a surgical resident...perfectly captures the wonder and fearful responsibility that come with cutting people open in the hope of making them whole again.' Bill Bryson"
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By James Bury
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
What I particularly like about the book is that it goes beyond giving a slightly morbid peek into the medical world, and really involves you by raising all sorts of dilemmas and social issues that affect us all.
Do I want a novice surgeon operating on my child - certainly not. Do I want expert surgeons to be around when my daughter grows up - certainly do! So, who do I want them to learn on - someone elses child, the elderly or homeless??
What about medical negligence issues - if we keep punishing doctors for errors, how does that affect the treatments they're prepared to carry out or indeed the careers they're prepared to follow? Trial and error is an unavoidable part of developing new techniques. So if we want to reduce the number of errors, we have to be prepared to reduce ther level of progress in medecine. Where does that leave us when we're in dire need and only ground-breaking techniques can help?
This is a fascinating and sometimes disturbing book that should be compulsory reading for society as a whole, not just the medically curious.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By "sdcknights"
Format:Hardcover
Dr Gawande has produced in 'Complications' an intriguing and absorbing text. This exploration of medicine reveals to the reader a world of scientific guesswork and intuition, all going on behind the facade of clear-cut clinical practice. As a surgical Resident, Dr Gawande provides the Physicians view - the control that people are willing to give to the doctor, allowing them to inject them with chemicals, perform procedures that could cause more harm if done incorrectly, and in the extreme to assume control of their vital functions. He also as a father conveys the mixed emotions elicited by surrendering ones children to those most capable of saving them.
However, 'complications' goes beyond this, with discussion of the motivation of the medical profession, its attitudes towards conditions that cannot be treated, and the 'gut feelings' rather than hard evidence underlying many diagnoses. Similarly, the attitudes towards medical teaching (wherein doctors learn by doing) are considered from the viewpoints of both doctor and patient, along with how and why doctors make mistakes.
This book must be recommended to anyone with even a slight interest in medicine, particularly those considering entering the medical profession.
However, 'complications' goes beyond this, with discussion of the motivation of the medical profession, its attitudes towards conditions that cannot be treated, and the 'gut feelings' rather than hard evidence underlying many diagnoses. Similarly, the attitudes towards medical teaching (wherein doctors learn by doing) are considered from the viewpoints of both doctor and patient, along with how and why doctors make mistakes.
This book must be recommended to anyone with even a slight interest in medicine, particularly those considering entering the medical profession.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I read this book the week before I started as a Consultant Surgeon in the UK. It is just the book for surgeons and their patients to read. The book inspires and at the same time shows man and medicine are not as realiable as machines but today until technology changes they are all we have and things do not always go as surgeons and their patients would wish and that is not necessarily anyones fault. The important word to describe the surgeon and his book is 'honest'.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By taking a rest
HALL OF FAME
Format:Hardcover
"Complications", by Dr. Atul Gawande is a very gutsy and honest discussion about medicine in general, and surgeons in particular. The book is also unique, for unlike others of its type it is written by a surgeon that is starting his career, and not looking back upon it. I would imagine that the book caused some consternation amongst his peers. The book does nothing to minimize the skills and accomplishments of the men and women who can reach in to the body and do some pretty spectacular work. The book does portray them as human beings that come with all the normal traits that any of us do. The pressure they must deal with is that when they make a mistake, it can irreparably harm or cause the death of the patient they are trying to help.
The vast majority of careers that people practice do not involve decisions that can cause the outcomes I mention above. And few occupations require of their practitioners near perfection, that if not delivered has a major legal industry prepared to hammer them with lawsuits. Incompetent or negligent doctors should be punished and removed from practice, but what about a human error, or a doctor that makes every single decision that is correct and appropriate for the patient he or she sees, and misses the 1 in 250,000 cases where doing everything correctly can cause a patient to die. The final chapter of this book deals with exactly those type of odds. Whether those odds are beaten often depends on the instincts of the physician. And these intuitive feelings they may or may not act upon are certainly helped by experience, but younger doctors without the years that familiarity brings can often make a decision largely because they are so new. Dr.... Read more ›
The vast majority of careers that people practice do not involve decisions that can cause the outcomes I mention above. And few occupations require of their practitioners near perfection, that if not delivered has a major legal industry prepared to hammer them with lawsuits. Incompetent or negligent doctors should be punished and removed from practice, but what about a human error, or a doctor that makes every single decision that is correct and appropriate for the patient he or she sees, and misses the 1 in 250,000 cases where doing everything correctly can cause a patient to die. The final chapter of this book deals with exactly those type of odds. Whether those odds are beaten often depends on the instincts of the physician. And these intuitive feelings they may or may not act upon are certainly helped by experience, but younger doctors without the years that familiarity brings can often make a decision largely because they are so new. Dr.... Read more ›
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am currently a medical student and we were recomended this book in one of our lectures and it is one of the most interesting books that I have read this last year. It has enough medical facts to keep someone who has some (though not a lot) of knowledge into medicine but not to much that it becomes unreadable to people without the medical back ground. It raises ethical issues aswell. I really enjoyed this book and will be recomending it to all my friends.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
One of those rare books when only totally over-the-top adjectives leap to mind. Rivetting. Enlightening. Beautifully written. I defy anyone who can put this book down half-way through.
Buy it, read it and lend it to all your friends. Brilliant.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very useful and entertaining
A book you can't put down!It really opens your mind to the fact that doctors aren't perfect and neither should you expect them to be. Read more
Published 10 days ago by Mr. Ian D. Whiteside
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome buy
This book is thrilling and it gives you a great insight on the world of surgeon. The letters are just right too so its easy to read. As a whole great buy!
Published 17 days ago by Zimah
5.0 out of 5 stars
The surgeon is there to make you better, the surgical team is there to...
Previously read the Checklist Manifesto and I decided to come back for more. Author has an anecdotal style, similar to Malcolm Gladwell, that gets his point across very well. Read more
Published 2 months ago by J R Thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read!
Very interesting, certainly kept me gripped throughout! This book is not only for medical students, recommended to everyone.There are some shocking revelations in there!
Published 2 months ago by Anon
4.0 out of 5 stars
First of Three
I think that I am looking at this book from a different perspective to most of its previous other reviewers. I am a lecturer in health in particular perioperative practice. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Simon Nixon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great stimulating and interesting read; Great for prospective medics
This book is brilliantly written and really examines the l issues surrounding modern medicine and administration all medicine. Read more
Published 4 months ago by F. Bonthrone
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thoughtful and so true
I really enjoyed this book. As a practising doctor I know that uncertainty is part of the job. I think this book provides a thoughtful insight into the world of medicine
Published 4 months ago by Mona Kooner
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fantastic book
You must read this book if you have any interest in Surgery or medicine! I have learnt so much from reading this. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Antax
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
I have read all of the author's books but in the wrong order. I finally caught up with this one. An excellent insight into the minds of medics. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Stewart Townsend
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Read
I would recommend for any student considering medicine as a career; it gives a realistic view of what trully is an 'imperfect science'.
Published 21 months ago by LJEds
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