This was a very interesting book to read! This book covers many medico-legal terminology and medical ethics topics such as informed consent, capacity, advance directives, substituted judgement, and end of life care, to name a few. This book also covers the schism between how medicine was practiced and is now practiced, focusing specifically on the standard of care for evidence based medicine, decision algorithms, and the balance between patient autonomy and medical paternalism. There is also a significant discussion of how patients and their complaints against doctors and the healthcare system often tax the reserves of many burnt out doctors who lack the resources and funding to give the best patient care, as well as a discussion of quality of life and acknowledgement of the value in comfort care measures. As someone who is about to become a doctor in the US, this was an affirming read for me because the frustrations of the US healthcare system are similar to what is seen in the UK, and it’s helpful to hear other people air their grievances.

The format of these topics is interesting - delivered through a fictionalized story likely to make non-medical readers more interested, there is an element of autobiographical nature that runs through this work. I personally found the narrative to be truthful, and explained complicated medical topics as said above well and with little superfluous and taxing medical terminology. It’s hard to get a non-medical person to listen to the struggles of healthcare workers, especially when we’re now at a time where the medical field and science itself is disrespected. I for one though, found this to be a well-informed and engaging read.

My thanks to NetGalley, The Book Guild, and the author for allowing me to read an electronic ARC of this work in exchange for an open and honest review!