The Good, the Bad, and the Complicated...Life Behind the O.R. Doors
February 15, 2012
Ruggieri (The Surgery Handbook: A Guide To Understanding Your Operation), a general surgeon in private practice, here gives readers an honest and open look into the surgical profession. He reflects on topics such as the rigors of training, excessive work hours and fatigue, medical errors, malpractice and the fear of being sued, dealing with the guilt of patient death, and medical ethics. Interspersed throughout the book are stories about real patients, which illustrate his points. VERDICT Though interesting and well written for the most part, the book is a little disjointed chronologically. Additionally, Ruggieri's concluding chapters are presented in the format of an interview, forcing readers to transition from narrative to transcript and creating a rhetorical shift that detracts from the overall flow of the book. Still, those interested in the hard work of medicine and especially surgery may find this a worthwhile read.--Dana Ladd, Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Libs., Richmond
Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.