Beware the Necrotizing Fasciitis

Rating:☆☆☆☆

Title:Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science

Author: Atul Gawande

Genre: Medicine

Read: Sometime in May 2005



Comments: Gawande's style is very conversational and he gives an honest look at what it means to be a surgeon today. He covers fascinating cases of rare medical conditions, but without losing sight of the person behind the disease. He's very forthright about issues concerning medical ethics and doesn't shy away from painful subjects such as the problems of stress and substance abuse among doctors. Neither is he afraid to get gory as evidenced in the chapter on necrotizing fasciitis (better known as flesh-eating bacteria); which is also an enlightening study of how even in modern medicine, it sometimes pays to go with your gut feeling. This is great read, but perhaps not right before dinner!

Quote: "An extremely rare and horrendously lethal type of infection known as necrotizing fasciitis..."

Complications