A hospital operating room may not be as safe as you think it is. Hiding among the sterile scrubs and gleaming instruments of an operating room is a whole lot of high drama: split-second life-and-death decisions.deep questions of ethics.roaring personality conflicts.the glory of saving a life-and the horror when a simple procedure goes terribly wrong.Renowned surgeon Pierce Scranton, Jr., kept a detailed diary of his internship year at a busy California teaching hospital. This book is a vivid, fictionalized memoir of that year in the trenches. Through the intertwined stories of teachers, students and patients, it explores issues like: What happens when teaching and healing come into conflict? When is a new treatment to prolong life a good idea, and when is it a disaster? How did lawyers and bean-counters get so much power? And when do relationships between doctors and other staff "go too far?" This honest account is startling and sometimes shocking-but always gripping.
Death on the Learning Curve: The Making of a Surgeon
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About the Author
Pierce E. Scranton Jr. was team physician for the Seattle Seahawks, president of the NFL Physician's Society, and president of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. In addition to private practice and charity work, he has authored over one hundred peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and books, including Playing Hurt: Treating and Evaluating the Warriors of the NFL (Potomac, 2002).
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I read Death On the Learning Curve while recovering from ankle surgery and I thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact, someday in the future, I plan on reading it again! It was a hard book to put down and I couldn't wait to see the outcome of the medical drama. I now understand how hard it is for interns to make decisions that could cost another's life. While reading this book, I often gasped, laughed, and got teary eyed. You won't be disappointed if you invest your money and time into this book.
This review was written by Linda Gardner.
This review was written by Linda Gardner.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Dr. Scranton's book is a candid and realistic portrait of internship in the 1970's. Although some things have changed, many more things have remained the same. His attention to details makes this story very real and delightfully entertaining. This is a wonderful read for anyone in the medical profession, but medical knowledge is certainly not needed to follow the story line and thoroughly enjoy.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is a very enjoyable read. It is a page-turner of medical suspense that's nearly impossible to put down. If you like TV medical dramas like ER or Grey's Anatomy, then you'll really like this book. It'll also shock you into awareness of what really goes on in teaching hospitals... the ethical dilemmas, life and death situations that require split second actions, the simple mistakes that lead to disaster, the positive outcomes that make the medical doctor's training worthwhile.
The book will make you more aware for when you or family members go into the hospital, all the while entertaining you as you read the book.
The book will make you more aware for when you or family members go into the hospital, all the while entertaining you as you read the book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
excellent read
I really enjoyed this book. Very hard to put down. I felt that I was there every step of the way. Will read this book over again and enjoy it as much as the first time around
Published 12 months ago by karen hanson
Thrilling and informative. A very unique novel.
An exciting read from the scalpel's eye view! This book exposes the human and real side of the physician's/surgeon's learning process. Read more
Published on October 11, 2009 by Michele Holley
Wonderfully Writtten!
I absolutely loved this book! Whether or not this book was fictional or a semi-autobiographical endeavor, I found myself turning the page for more. Dr. Read more
Published on January 25, 2009 by M. Knudson
Fast paced, a good read
I enjoyed this book. It reminded me a lot of "Grey's Anatomy" only it takes place in the early 1970's so it's interesting to see how many things have changed since then (women in... Read more
Published on February 21, 2008 by S. Kennedy
Death On The Learning Curve
A really excellent book for anyone interested in the medical field. A true insight into doctors in training.
Published on January 1, 2008 by Deborah T. Cassidy
A Fascinating Read!
The struggles, challenges, and rewards of being a medical intern are realistically and graphically portrayed in Pierce Scranton's "Learning Curve". Read more
Published on December 8, 2007 by James H. Sanders
Now that I've finished the book maybe I can get some sleep!
I lost sleep while reading Death On The Learning Curve! That's because I stayed up until all hours of the night reading it, unable to put it down! Read more
Published on September 29, 2007 by Joyce Allen
What a great surprise read, and a refreshing perspective
Having worked with physicians for 28 years, and a large percentage of those being surgeons, I found this book full of insights I had never really appreciated. Read more
Published on September 22, 2007 by Philip E. Dyer
Death on the Learning Curve
This book is an informative, easy, objective read. It is directed toward the entire reading population and in particular medical and pre medical students for an introduction into... Read more
Published on September 21, 2007 by William Gondring MD
Alfieri
Dr. Scranton's book is above all else - Honest. It is honest in its portrayal of the quality of medicine which occurs after a person earns and MD degree and becomes a physican; it... Read more
Published on July 9, 2007 by Ralph A. Alfieri
Inside This Book
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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fools and duck hunters, zero silk, ortho resident, bow tie bobbed, extremity service, bridge troll, pilonidal cyst, teaching rounds Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Neal Morgan, Carl Morgan, Sylvia Brigham, Doctor Crosby, Jesus Christ, Lunch Lefke, Blade Blackston, Ned Crosby, David Hazelette-Warner, Peter Castleford, Hal Tipton, Lacey Bigelow, Bernard Kingston, Fred North, Sweet Jesus, Doc Edwards, Skippy Murdoch, Doctor Singh, Warren Childress, Miss Katherine, Doctor Tipton, Miss Maylath, Myron Nadler, Johann Drinker, Two North Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
fools and duck hunters, zero silk, ortho resident, bow tie bobbed, extremity service, bridge troll, pilonidal cyst, teaching rounds Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Neal Morgan, Carl Morgan, Sylvia Brigham, Doctor Crosby, Jesus Christ, Lunch Lefke, Blade Blackston, Ned Crosby, David Hazelette-Warner, Peter Castleford, Hal Tipton, Lacey Bigelow, Bernard Kingston, Fred North, Sweet Jesus, Doc Edwards, Skippy Murdoch, Doctor Singh, Warren Childress, Miss Katherine, Doctor Tipton, Miss Maylath, Myron Nadler, Johann Drinker, Two North Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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