First Do No Harm: Reflections on Becoming a Neurosurgeon

The author traces his development as a neurosurgeon--from his days at medical school, to the drudgery of internship, the slavery of residency, and finally into private practice--and provides a personal perspective of his craft

It takes a strong stomach to read the detailed accounts here of emergency accidents and crime-victim cases and some of the operations performed by Rainer, chief of surgery at the East Alabama Medical Center. A practitioner of the risk-filled specialty of neurosurgery, the author recalls his years of schooling and brain-numbing, marriage-wrecking internship and residency schedules. Along with discussing his professional satisfactions, he writes with candor about his mistakes, about the inadequacy of certain medical practices (such as burn treatments), and the misdiagnoses and impersonal care of patients that he witnessed in a veteran's hospital. Rainer praises the efficacy of peer-review boardsand, like most physicians, he deplores what he considers excessive malpractice suits fostered by greedy lawyers. Major ad/promo. (April
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This autobiographical account of the making of a neurosurgeon shows us the world of a man so consumed by his profession that no room is left for wife or children. The total dedication of self to the service of others at the expense of one's family seems a tragic choice to make; it is unfortunate that the surgeon must miss so much in life in order to save others. Dr. Rainer's tales of his successes and failures in the treatment of patientsfrom his first fumblings as a medical student to his days in private practiceare well done. He also covers his problems with medical malpractice and expulsion from his group practice. An excellent medical autobiography, recommended for most health collections. Robert Schmid, Univ. of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical Sch. LRC, North Chicago
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.