Confessions of a Surgeon: The Good, the Bad, and the Complicated...Life Behind the O.R. Doors

by Paul A. Ruggieri MD Narrated by Eric Martin

Overview

As an active surgeon and former department chairman, Dr. Paul A. Ruggieri has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of his profession. In Confessions of a Surgeon, he pushes open the doors of the O.R. and reveals the inscrutable place where lives are improved, saved, and sometimes lost. He shares the successes, failures, remarkable advances, and camaraderie that make it exciting. He uncovers the truth about the abusive, exhaustive training and the arduous devotion of his old-school education. He explores the twenty-four-hour challenges that come from patients and their loved ones; the ethics of saving the lives of repugnant criminals; the hot-button issues of healthcare, lawsuits, and reimbursements; and the true cost of running a private practice. And he explains the influence of the "white coat code of silence" and why patients may never know what really transpires during surgery.

Ultimately, Dr. Ruggieri lays bare an occupation that to most is as mysterious and unfamiliar as it is misunderstood. His account is passionate, illuminating, and often shocking-an eye-opening, never-before-seen look at real life, and death, in the O.R.

Editorial Reviews

Library Journal

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

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171098339
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	04/25/2017
Edition description:	Unabridged

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