Purpose of this is going to hurt
To draw attention to the modern failings in the NHS
Doctors are misrepresented in the media
Funniest part of the book
His patient is a lady who has suspected alcoholism.
Adam asked her how much she consumes and she said three bottles of wine on a good day.
Then he said ‘what about on a bad day’ and she said she only manages one
What is a sad part of the book
- Patients don’t see doctors as being human which is why they’re so quick to complain if we make a mistake
Saddest story in the book
- When he is a senior Registrar (ranking before consultant)
- He was working in the gynecology/ obstetrician ward
- Performed a C section on a patient with an undiagnosed placenta praevia.
This is where placenta grows in the lowest part of the womb and covers the opening to the cervix.
- Baby comes out dead and mother suffers blood loss but luckily another surgeon comes to perform a hysterectomy
- He was very upset but wasn’t offered therapy or a day off
He eventually resigns from his job
When breath becomes air is about what
Neurosurgeon from Stanford University is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer
“Even if I’m dying, until I actually die, I’m still living.”
what happened to Paul was tragic, but he was not a tragedy
3 main lessons from when breath becomes air
- Cherish every moment of life because you never know when things can go wrong
- You don’t know everything in a healthcare setting, whether you are a doctor or a patient.
- Have a plan A and a plan B and maybe even a plan C
- Importance of reflection
