reviewed written by Sue Major & read live on bookshow august 2015
Do No Harm offers an unforgettable insight
into the highs and lows of a life dedicated to operating on the brain. With
astonishing candour and compassion , Henry Marsh reveals the drama of surgery ,
the chaos of a busy modern hospital and the need for hope when faced with
life's difficult decisions.
Henry Marsh is a senior neurosurgeon at
St.George's Hospital in London and this memoir offers glimpses into his
stressful career. Each chapter begins with a real-life case study, and he
carefully explains the background, diagnosis and procedures carried out in
order to treat each condition. Though this is fascinating, the magic of the
book lies in the insight one has into the character of Henry Marsh. He is a
humble man, who is super-skilled at manipulating the tools of micro-surgery,
but he likens each day to a battle....and though he does his best to be the
winner, he accepts that he is fallible. He is disarmingly honest regarding his
own failings when faced with the complexities of brain surgery, and he shows the
importance of dispassionate observation combined with compassion. Overall, his
belief is that surgeons should always do the right thing for the patient, even
if that means doing very little surgery.
I found this memoir to be compelling
reading. It isn't easy reading at all, but I'm so glad I persevered beyond the
surgical detail to find Henry Marsh, the man.
No comments:
Post a Comment