Doctors, nurses, EMTs, and other medical types are in our lives from birth to death. We’re often tempted to think of them as another kind of human, without the emotions, doubts, and ambiguities of mere mortals. But the books discussed here portray them in all their human facets.
First there’s the old-fashioned (1974) “Women in White” by Frank G. Slaughter. Slaughter was himself a medical doctor, and he demonstrates this with descriptions of medical facts and details. This story follows three employees of a huge hospital complex in Miami. There is nurse Carolyn Payton, who balances care of her patients with concern over her father, who has Huntington’s disease; cardiac surgeon Rebecca Dalton, whose career often opposes her husband’s, also a surgeon; and pathologist Karen Fletcher, an ambitious woman who is not above using others to advance her career. We follow these three as they succeed or fail in their high-pressure environment. Though you may find some of their 50-year-old procedures dated, the emotions and rivalries are just the same as today.
Now on to something new, “500 Miles from You” by Jenny Colgan, published in 2020. This is a lighthearted tale of two nurses, Cormac and Lissa, employees of the National Healthcare System in Britain. In London, Lissa is a visiting nurse in a high-pressure environment. She witnesses a violent hit-and-run murder and develops PTSD. Cormac is a Scottish visiting nurse in a tiny village near Loch Ness, but also a former army medic who saw untold suffering and violence in the Mideast. Their supervisors agree that each could benefit from a change of scenery, so they are assigned to swap jobs. The appeal of this story is the extreme contrast between small town nursing and big city nursing, and how each character comes to appreciate a very different kind of life.
I’ve just finished reading “A Sunlit Weapon” by Jacqueline Winspear (2022). It’s the latest in her series featuring Maisie Dobbs, an extraordinary character and a woman ahead of her time. If 20th Century historical fiction appeals to you (particularly the span of the two World Wars), these books definitely fill the bill. They take Daisy from her adolescent years as a lower-class but brilliant young lady into adulthood, first as a WW1 battlefield nurse and later branching out into psychology and establishing her own business. There are several storylines that span several books, so start at the beginning of the series, titled simply “Maisie Dobbs.”
“My Soul to Take” by clinical psychologist Steven Spruill (1994) is a fast-paced medical suspense novel starring DC-area neurosurgeon Suzannah Lord. She has assisted Dr. Roland Lancaster (one of several villains) in developing a microchip that can be implanted in the brain to restore sight to blind or nearly blind patients. Sounds great, right? But it soon becomes apparent that some of these patients develop another sight — that of seeing into the future. Oops, now the military and CIA get interested. This story is essentially one big chase scene that held my attention right up to the end.
Attorney Henry Denker often writes about legal issues in the medical field, in the way that Jodi Picoult writes today.
“Doctor on Trial” (1992) centers around emergency room doctor Kate Forrester and begins with a very hectic night in the ER. Kate is the attending physician dealing with gunshot wounds, attempted suicides, drug overdoses, and the like. With these life-or-death situations, the arrival of the daughter of a prominent New York City billionaire appears to be a low priority — until the young woman dies. Suddenly Kate is charged with malpractice and man-slaughter, and she must rely on attorney Scott Van Cleve to save her and her career. This is another fast-moving story by the author of “Horowitz and Mrs. Washington.”
Think for a moment about the medical professionals who got us through the recent pandemic. They worked long hours (sometimes with no PPE), putting their own health at risk, and often having to be isolated from their families. The doctors, nurses, EMTs, nursing home workers, and others who kept us alive until the vaccines came along deserve our gratitude. Thanks to you all, and Happy reading!
Kaye West retired from the Henry County Library System. She enjoys reading, taking daily walks, and spending time with friends. She lives in McDonough with her husband.
