Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science

4.18 of 5 stars 4.18 · rating details · 11,978 ratings · 1,274 reviews

In gripping accounts of true cases, surgeon Atul Gawande explores the power and the limits of medicine, offering an unflinching view from the scalpel’s edge. Complications lays bare a science not in its idealized form but as it actually is—uncertain, perplexing, and profoundly human.

Complications is a 2002 National Book Award Finalist for Nonfiction.

...more

Paperback, 269 pages

Published April 1st 2003 by Picador (first published January 1st 2002)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales by Oliver Sacks

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Medicine and Literature

12th out of 713 books — 726 voters

Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer

Must Read Non-Fiction

59th out of 919 books — 1,084 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Mar 11, 2012 Patricia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

A year or more ago, I mistakenly placed a review for Gawande's book Better under this title. I have fixed the mix up, and I have now read Complications.

Gawande is pure pleasure to read. His writing is fluid and full of germane examples as he addresses big issues like error and incompetence as well as topics that seem less significant but which he makes worthy of consideration such as blushing and nausea. The headings for each section of the book--Fallibility, Mystery, and Uncertainty--are themat...more

7 likes · like · see review

Mar 29, 2008 reabdimation rated it 3 of 5 stars

Hmmm... I love surgery, it means.. when a handy book of more-humanity-and-less-cut of surgery was published.. how can i resist?

Well.. for being honest, it makes me feel bored when i've red the middle-part. it turns 'in' again in a few last chapter. I agree to middle-rating, (in Indonesia means, lumayanlah.. bukan buku sampah) of this book. but i truly disagree when sumone gave only one star rating to this stuff. (Cari deh di tinjauan lain. Huh. You make me angry dude.. pelit amat sih. Gue nggak...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jul 26, 2007 Lucy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2007

this was a very interesting book. i liked his writing style, too. it was far more engaging than the stupid tree book. isn't this author bio a bit sickening, though? "atul gawande, a 2006 macarthur fellow, is a general surgeon at the brigham and women's hospital in boston, a staff writer for the new yorker, an assistant professor at harvard medical school, and a frequent contributor to the new england journal of medicine. gawande lives with his wife and three children in newton, massachusetts." t...more

4 likes · like · see review

Apr 18, 2009 Libby rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary

Although I am interested in the medical profession, motivation to learn more about it often elludes me. Gawande was able to keep my attention and present points that I could understand in spite of my limited medical knowledge.

Admittedly, some of his information scared me. After reading some points about surgery, I wondered how I ever allowed anyone to cut into me and place a plate and seven screws in my leg. Also, some of his writing made me squeemish. I had to pause or skip places that became t...more

6 likes · like · see review

Feb 04, 2008 Ben Pederson rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: have-read

This book wss filled with about 25 anecdotes flimsily tied together by Gawande's less than inspiring reflections. I have the book in front of me at the moment and I am paging through rereading sections that I noted along the way:

"I had come into residency to learn how to be a surgeon. I had thought that meant simply learning the repertoire of move and techniques involved in doing an operation or making a diagnosis. In fact, there was also the new and delicate matter of talking patients through t...more This book wss filled with about 25 anecdotes flimsily tied together by Gawande's less than inspiring reflections. I have the book in front of me at the moment and I am paging through rereading sections that I noted along the way:

"I had come into residency to learn how to be a surgeon. I had thought that meant simply learning the repertoire of move and techniques involved in doing an operation or making a diagnosis. In fact, there was also the new and delicate matter of talking patients through their decisions - something that sometimes entailed its own repertoire of moves and techniques." pg 217

Next to this paragraph I had written "NO SHIT!"

The book is full of these minor, pseudo-epiphianic moments that come off as weak aphorisms. However, given the audience of this book (everyone) he does well to treat people about how uncertain medicine really is and how it really comes down to the tricky nature of making decisions and how they should be made in the medical setting:

"But the conundrum remains: if both doctors and patients are fallible, who should decide? We want a rule. And so we've decided that the patients should be the ultimate arbiter. But such hard and fast rule seems ill-suited both to a caring relationships between docotr and patient and to the reality of medical care, where a hunderred decisions have to be made quickly... The doctor should not make all of these decisions, and neither should the patient. Something must be worked out between then, one on one - a personal modus operandi. Where many ethicits go wrong is in promoting patient autonomy as a kind of ultimate value in medicine rather than recognizing it as one value among others...(A)s the field grows ever more complex and technological, the real task isn't to banish paternalism; the real task is to preserve kindness." pg 223-4

This simply makes sense, nothing new here.

The best part of the book is the last two paragraphs (and is all you really need to read have said that you have read the book, in my opinion.):

"The possibilities and probabilities are all we have to work on within medicine...What we are drawn to in this imperfect science, what we in fact covet in our way, is the alterable moment- the fragile but crystalline opportunity for one's know-how, ability, or just gut instinct to change the course of another's life for the better. In the actual situations that present themselves, however, [...] we can never be sure whether we have such a moment or not. Even less clear is whether the actions we choose will prove either wise or helpful. That our efforts succeed at all is still sometimes a chock to me. But they do. Not always, but often enough." pg 251-2

In a way, the whole thesis of this book (which I think is summed up in the sentence in bold above) is pretty remarkable. There is so much talk about the fallibility and humanity in medicine right now... fallibility is so hot right now. However, as is apparent in this book, the medical community is only at the stage of recognizing this fallibility. Gawande doesn't do what I thought he would: suggest what we should do given the increase visibility of the fallibility of the practice of medicine. He really doesn't have any good ideas. In all his articles, he seems to be advocating a technocratic answer (using checklists etc.). The biggest problem I have with the book is the way Gawande seems to view the profession medical community of independently-acting people, who, in the aggregate, are not too of an impressive lot. In this, Gawande is entirely old-school. He fails to recognize the possibility of alternative ways to approach patient care. In a way, I think that he is dangerously anecdotal. Maybe it is just me being tired of reading anecdotal medical non-fiction, but it just seems like a lame format (don't hold these words against me because I really don't know what I am looking for, or what type of book I would write). He treats them like data points. I believe that the book could be reduced by about 80% for someone like you or I who are as far in the medical field as we are.

However, I believe there to be value within this book. I am really really happy that millions of people (future patients) are reading books like this and Groopman's "How doctor's think" as it really does educate them to get real about what medical care is all about. It will serve to empower people and get them involved in their care and think about how they want it to go down. But, to me, I really did expect a lot more from this guy. The reviews that it got are ridiculous, they are way over the top! It is pretty incredible- it goes to show how easy it is to be heard once you have written for the New Yorker and got a MD from Havard. I will keep reading his books, though, for no other reason than that he is so hot right now, millions are reading him. I at least have to know other people are thinking about. (less)

5 likes · like · see review

Oct 24, 2007 Elizabeth rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Complications is a book of anecdotes about a surgical resident’s experiences and impressions of the current health care environment. Gawande divides his stories into three sections: fallibility, mystery, and uncertainty. The fallibility section demonstrates that doctors can make mistakes. Some fallibility arises from there being a learning curve. For example, it is hard to do a central line correctly the first time. But for a doctor to learn how to do a central line, he must have a first patient...more Complications is a book of anecdotes about a surgical resident’s experiences and impressions of the current health care environment. Gawande divides his stories into three sections: fallibility, mystery, and uncertainty. The fallibility section demonstrates that doctors can make mistakes. Some fallibility arises from there being a learning curve. For example, it is hard to do a central line correctly the first time. But for a doctor to learn how to do a central line, he must have a first patient to try it on. The concern then arises as to which patients receive care from the inexperienced versus the experienced. Yet fallibility occurs in even the most experienced doctors. Gawande reports on one doctor who became so careless that he was no longer allowed to practice. The frightening part of that story is how long his colleagues let him continue when they had concerns. (The Doctor also brings up this issue.) It is understandable that doctors are reluctant to come down too hard on their colleagues. They need each other as a support system and thus need to maintain trusting relationships. Furthermore, medicine is uncertain, and it can take a long time to see a pattern of truly irresponsible behavior as opposed to just having more complicated cases. Gawande makes the point that discipline of doctors works best when it done by a group outside the doctors peer group or employer because it is more objective. Then this outside group can propose a plan of action which the employer can implement. Unfortunately, this model has been too expensive to be much of a viable option.
The mystery section details stories of conditions that cannot be explained by current medical science, like blushing, pain, and nausea. In each of these cases, the doctors could not explain why the patient had the condition. Much of the time, the patient just wanted the doctors to believe them even though there did not seem to be a physiological source of the problem. It is interesting that the patient is more willing to accept that there is no medical explanation than the doctors. Yet the doctors are the ones with the training and have probably seen many more circumstances when they cannot make a diagnosis.
The uncertainty section deals with how to make the right diagnosis or judgment. There are several points in this section that have come up in the other literature reviewed for this independent study. First is the declining use of the autopsy. The autopsy is how doctors can determine what was actually wrong with the patient. It is the final way to get rid of uncertainty. Its purpose is to help the doctors recognize such conditions in the future. Yet autopsies are done less and less. (Although many times the family is opposed to the autopsy and will not allow it.) Another recurring point is the decision-making power of the patient. Patients have become more pro-active in their desire for decision-making ability, but they are much more ambivalent about actually exercising it. Especially in situations where there is uncertainty, patients do not feel comfortable or emotionally able to make the decision. Some do not think they can handle the responsibility if it turns out to be the wrong decision. Gawande notes that doctors also prefer to make the decision. One of the things he had to learn as a resident is how to persuade patients to the decision he thinks is best. As health care becomes more consumer-driven, the debate over the level of physician agency is likely to continue.

(less)

5 likes · like · see review

May 27, 2010 Osho rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

"Re-read" as an abridged audiobook.

I like Gawande and I liked this book when I read it a few years ago. The audiobook, which is abridged, was less enjoyable for me. Not having the physical book in front of me when I listened, I can't say where the abridgments took place, but I did notice that at a number of points, I thought, "That's an oversimplified explanation" or "That's a romantic interpretation of that data." Perhaps the boring scientific stuff, which is what makes a book like this for a r...more

4 likes · like · see review

Aug 10, 2007 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

An very well written book in which Gawande argues that surgery is an evolving and imperfect art. He begins by describing in compulsively readable detail some occasions during which it has failed its patients. An overarching theme in the book is an idea of what makes a good surgeon; Gawande points out that it's not about innate talent. It's about practice, commitment, a willingless to learn new things, a willingness to teach others, specialization, and perhaps attentiveness to the patient. (I als...more

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 15, 2009 Sue rated it 4 of 5 stars

Atul Gawande writes for The New Yorker, and I always read his articles as soon as I spot the by-line. I read "Better" last year and think it is even, yes, better. But both books have rare qualities. Gawande is a physician who can step back from his ego and write with compassion and insight about the relationship between vulnerable sick people and those whose skill and judgment they are compelled to trust.

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 29, 2010 Danae rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun and interesting book, full of little insights and things to think about. The author is a doctor, who also happens to have written columns for a couple of on-line magazines, and several of the chapters began as such columns-- which is about how the book reads. It's like sitting down and reading a fairly interesting magazine article, which you may find yourself thinking about later, or mentioning in a conversation, but the book itself doesn't really have any clear objective or agend...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 28, 2009 browse rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've been on the very outer fringes of the medical profession for years now, with a mom as a nurse, a girlfriend studying to be a doctor and having several hundred hours training myself as a massage therapist. I was a big fan of the 1990's television series, "The Operation". So I confess up front to being the target audience for a first-hand account of what it's like being a surgeon today.

The author, Dr Atul Gawande, does not flinch away from controversy and contradiction. He discusses at length...more

1 like · like · see review

May 20, 2013 Karlie rated it 5 of 5 stars

“Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science” is a book full of stories from Dr. Atul Gawande’s medical residency. In this book, he tells some of his most traumatic and intense stories from a surgeon’s point of view. He explains the need for good decision making skills, judgment, and the importance of education in an important career. His stories are very inspiring and fascinating.
This book has not been made into a movie.
Complications is a very complicated book. It is filled with...more

like · see review

Apr 14, 2013 Shahaf Abileah rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was pretty entertaining and informative. My wife is in med school now so it's also apropos. Having read this, I feel like I have a somewhat better idea of what doctors think and how they operate.

The book is a series of fairly independent essays. Once in a long while Gawande will make a reference from one essay to another (e.g. this patient was similar to Lazaroff in that previous chapter). But on the whole each essay stands by itself, which makes for a good casual read.

There are a few...more This book was pretty entertaining and informative. My wife is in med school now so it's also apropos. Having read this, I feel like I have a somewhat better idea of what doctors think and how they operate.

The book is a series of fairly independent essays. Once in a long while Gawande will make a reference from one essay to another (e.g. this patient was similar to Lazaroff in that previous chapter). But on the whole each essay stands by itself, which makes for a good casual read.

There are a few common themes. The main one is that medicine is an inexact science and doctors are not always sure of themselves, even if they put up a confident facade. A related theme is the various processes/tools that doctors use to try to improve their practice. Actually, this theme about how to improve medicine seems to be a common area of research for Gawande; I read one of his other books, Checklist Manifesto, which is entirely about how to use checklists to reduce the rate of errors in medicine.

A few of the essays are very memorable...

"When Good Doctors Go Bad" talks about a surgeon who was a superstar for a while, but then kinda burned out and started making pretty bad mistakes (e.g. one patient lost the use of her left knee because of his mistakes). The essay was largely about how the system often takes a long time to strip doctors like this of their license (months or years).

"The Case of the Red Leg" is about a woman whose leg was stricken by flesh-eating bacteria; it's about how uncertain the doctors were about the diagnosis, and about the treatment which included both surgery and a SCUBA-like pressure chamber.

"Crimson Tide" is about a woman whose career as a TV anchor was severely limited by her uncontrolled blushing. She underwent surgery that prevented her from blushing, but had the side effect that she would sweat more profusely in the lower half of her body.

"The Pain Perplex" is about an architect who had severe back pain that could not be tied to any physical problem - no nerve damage, no vertebrae problem, nothing. It's about our still limited understanding of how the brain works and how pain manifests itself. It's also about situations where doctors wonder if the patient is making it up.

What makes Gawande a good writer is that he strikes a good balance between the science and the people. In just a few pages, he makes you feel an emotional connection to these patients, even while you learn jargon and statistics.
(less)

like · see review

Mar 26, 2013 Marília Bonelli rated it 4 of 5 stars

Scary for how true it is in the simplest ways. Doctors are human beings, we know that. But we also forget how human sometimes.

This is not the type of book I read or even gravitate towards. My professor got it as a gift and lent it to me. I read a random paragraph and immediately liked it.

If you're scared of doctors, don't read this. :) If you are a doctor or anything involved with the profession, or even if you're a veterinarian, like me, read it, you'll probably see yourself or your colleag...more

like · see review

Feb 22, 2013 Sandra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Written by a surgeon, this non-fiction book is an excellent read for medical professionals as well as the people they treat. Gawande discusses medicine, and specifically surgery, as a constantly changing body of knowledge used by doctors, who are human themselves, to treat their patients. His deferential style, compassionate tone, astute observations, and thoughtful debates make this book 'my cuppa tea'. The book is written in three parts. Part I is about the fallibility of doctors: how resident...more

like · see review

Dec 20, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir, non-fiction, health

I thought this book was really interesting. It's divided into three sections: the first is about fallibility (mistakes doctors make, the ethics of residents 'practicing' on patients or inevitably making mistakes on patients while learning new, better ways to do things, etc.), the second is about mystery (with all of our scientific knowledge and rapid growth, there are still so many things we can't figure out or explain or fix), and the third is about uncertainty (this seemed to focus mainly on p...more I thought this book was really interesting. It's divided into three sections: the first is about fallibility (mistakes doctors make, the ethics of residents 'practicing' on patients or inevitably making mistakes on patients while learning new, better ways to do things, etc.), the second is about mystery (with all of our scientific knowledge and rapid growth, there are still so many things we can't figure out or explain or fix), and the third is about uncertainty (this seemed to focus mainly on patient involvement in their care--who is best equipped to make decisions? the doctor with his years of study and experience, or the usually under-informed patient who has to live with the decisions?).

I thought the second section on mystery was the most interesting--he covered medical issues large and small (from embarrassing chronic blushing to SIDS) and the medical knowledge we do, and even moreso, don't, have about them and how to treat/cure them. He also went into some of the psychology related to these medical mysteries, which was interesting.

My only complaint is that I thought he often didn't go deep or far enough in his discussion or reasoning. There were many times when a chapter ended just when I thought he was really getting going and was prepping to present some really awesome conclusion or thesis or whatever, but instead, the chapter just ended and he moved on. (For example, the chapter on SIDS was only about 4 and a half pages long . . . maybe I'm only interested in reading more about it since I have a young child and will most likely have more in the upcoming years, but I didn't think that was even close to enough to cover it.) On the bright side, this means that the book is quick to read and very manageable, and that even the portions that I found less interesting were over quickly, but there were many times that I wished he would dig deeper or give more information/thoughts on a topic.

Overall, I thought it was a really interesting read and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it--I loved learning more about the medical profession, the extent of their knowledge/experience (or lack of it), the ethical side of medicine that you almost never hear/think about, and especially the 'mystery' side of medicine.

One warning: if you are very squeamish about bodily stuff (I am), you might struggle with this one. There were quite a few stories about medical procedures that I had to skim through or skip because they were just too disgusting for me to get through. Also, after reading about how autopsies are performed, I've informed my husband that under no circumstances should he allow an autopsy to be performed on me, no matter how mysterious my death. Downright horrifying.(less)

like · see review

Sep 25, 2012 Shana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Two nights ago I finished Atul Gawande’s Complications: A surgeon’s notes on an imperfect science. I had read his book Better before and greatly enjoyed it so I was especially excited to get my hands on this one. Once again, he didn’t disappoint. Those of us not in the biomedical field tend to glamorize it as something far apart from what we do and that requires, well, perfection. Though Gawande is part of this seemingly unapproachable world, he works to make it seem more human. I know that soun...more

like · see review

Sep 19, 2012 Wendy Burks rated it 5 of 5 stars

Must read for those in the medical profession (where it was first recommended to me) as well as anyone touched by it, i.e. everyone! This is a fantastic read sprinkled with fascinating anecdotes, peppered with just the right amount of empirical support. The strength of this book is in Gawande's unique perspective as a surgeon himself and his forthcoming, honest approach to medicine being an imperfect science, yet him always striving to understand and learn more. The book is a refreshing, insight...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 09, 2012 Joyce Elferdink rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: unexpected-favorites

This nonfiction about the world of medicine is definitely not a book I would have chosen to read--it was chosen by a book discussion group and I am grateful! "Complications" proved to be a wonderful learning experience enhanced by what seems to be a very honest appraisal of the healing profession.

Gawande tells stories of his and other doctors' experiences, stories that filled me with awe, fear, understanding and respect for those who've chosen this profession. I had to rethink my own critique of...more

like · see review

Sep 01, 2012 Alanna rated it 5 of 5 stars

My brother-in-law recommended this book and I definitely enjoyed it. It's kind of a tough book to describe because it covers a variety of issues, but basically Gawande carries on a discussion, complete with lots of awesome stories to illustrate his points, of how we want medicine to be easy and cut-and-dried, but there are so many issues that leak into the grey zone. He talks about strange medical issues people have and how we try (and sometimes fail) to fix them-- stuff like blushing, to overea...more

like · see review

Jun 10, 2012 Kelli rated it 3 of 5 stars

In Complications, Atul Gawande asks (and addresses) the question that few dare ask: if medical science is incomplete and our medical teams are made of fallible human beings how do we begin to address or foresee complications that may arise? Historically, doctors have held so much sway and authority that we didn't dare question them or their diagnosis — let alone consider how their judgment might be affected by external factors such as incomplete knowledge. Yet, in the last couple of decades the...more

like · see review

Apr 27, 2012 Gwen Owens rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: medical

I'm a registered nurse so I am very familiar with how the medical field works... but not as much as the world of a doctor or resident. I found this book absolutely fascinating about the medical complications that occur in the hands of doctors. In fact, we actually got this from a secretary to a physician. She had bought it to help her understand the world of a resident better – but it freaked her out and she had to stop reading. It might scare people to realize that physicians are not all knowin...more

like · see review

Jan 27, 2012 Sanhita rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

After a long time I read a non-fiction and was totally riveted by it.
The true cases have been described without compromising on the human side of the trauma, diagnosis, surgery and after effects. Not written in a detached way though.Himself being a doctor, his book could have been suitable for becoming the part of scientific/medical journals and kept the reader in awe of the science. Instead he has written about the fallibility, uncertainties, questions, imperfections, doubts surrounding the med...more

like · see review

Jan 15, 2012 Dave rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: very-good-non-fiction

Well worth the read, as the author details several medical topics with interesting stories from inside the OR. I learned things like: the reduction in the frequency of autopsies is limiting medical advances; citing the wrong cause of death happens about 1/3 of the time, the same frequency as it did 40 years ago, despite the advances in nuclear medicine, imaging, etc.

If you blush too much you can have surgery to stop it all together. However, you won't be able to sweat above your chest any longe...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 29, 2011 Donna Brown rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook

This was a very well written book with some interesting, surprising and shocking insights into the medical industry. One thing Gawande makes very clear throughout the book: doctors are human and thus as fatally flawed as the rest of us! His use of real cases is underpinned by something more striking: his knowledge of his patients as people beyond the hospital. He is not afraid to speak against his peers and admit that there are failings in the medical system itself and with individuals and that...more

like · see review

Jul 24, 2011 Elliot Ratzman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Except for hypochondriacs, everyone should read this book. The surgeon-scribe Gawande is the perfect Virgil, escorting us through the Hell and Purgatory (and many happy endings) of uncertainties, mysteries and ambiguities of medicine. He shows us how physicians deal with learning curves in surgery, how they evaluate and deal with mistakes (discussed in large weekly sessions), what their trade conferences are like, and how institutions deal with bad doctors. Using unforgettable cases—a girl with...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 17, 2011 Matthew Fitzgerald rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked this one well enough. Gawande brought larger issues like obesity/bariatric surgery, cosmetic surgery as a whole, failing doctors, and other medical issues to life by skillfully linking the medical idea with a human story, a patient, that readers could identify with. Establishing a "character" to follow allows him to orbit broad issues and provide different perspectives on singular cases. He's a skillful writer and clearly a talented doctor. So why only three stars? Well, each chapter kin...more

like · see review

May 01, 2011 Jessica rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction

Complications deals with the mysteries and uncertanties of medicine, beginning with a reminder that doctors are (like the rest of us) fallible humans, and ones who often have to pretend they know more than they really do. He brings up difficult questions, like the quandary of giving a patient full disclosure ("Hi, I'm Dr. Gawande, and this is the first time I've ever performed this complicated surgery. But don't worry! The other doctor in the room has done it plenty of times and will be here to...more

like · see review

Apr 02, 2011 Sareen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Sareen by: Al Wong

Shelves: science-health

(Written 5/9/08)
This book excited me not only because I am/have always been excited about the human side of medicine, but because this comes at a very exciting period in my life. After only being a volunteer CST for 7 days, I already understand so much more about surgery than I ever have before. Central lines, guidewires, heart bypass machine... These are terms I could guess what they meant, but now I have actually seen this in action.

I devoured this book and the interesting cases that Gawande u...more

like · see review

Mar 06, 2011 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was so fascinating... one of those page-turner nonfiction books, this one about doctors and medical mistake-making. He basically analyzed mistakes in medicine and their causes--imperfect human decision-making, fatigue, incompetence, and just the natural complexity of the human body. Don't read it if you are skittish about going to the doctor though. :-) But I found it completely fascinating. Of course, doctors make mistakes, just like everyone else, and I've always been irritated by th...more

2 likes · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Lorenzo's Oil	2	36	Apr 18, 2013 11:56am

combine
Other Editions (24)

More editions...

Genres

Non Fiction

395 users

Health > Medicine

201 users

Medical

158 users

Science

147 users

Autobiography > Memoir

51 users

Health

43 users

Biography

22 users

Writing > Essays

17 users

Book Club

16 users

Health > Health Care

8 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Atul Gawande

Atul Gawande is a general and endocrine surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and associate director of their Center for Surgery and Public Health. He is also an assistant professor at the Harvard School of Public Health and an assistant professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/atulga...

More about Atul Gawande...

Books by Atul Gawande

Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance

The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right

A Mão que nos Opera: Confissões de um Cirurgião Sobre Uma Ciência Imperfeita

Scoot Over, Skinny: The Fat Nonfiction Anthology

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Complications: A ...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Complications: A Surge...

“We look for medicine to be an orderly field of knowledge and procedure. But it is not. It is an imperfect science, an enterprise of constantly changing knowledge, uncertain information, fallible individuals, and at the same time lives on the line. There is science in what we do, yes, but also habit, intuition, and sometimes plain old guessing. The gap between what we know and what we aim for persists. And this gap complicates everything we do.” — 53 people liked it

“Practice if funny that way. For days and days, you make out only the fragments of what to do. And then one day you've got the thing whole. Conscious learning becomes unconscious knowledge, and you cannot say precisely how.” — 13 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science
avg rating	preview: Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science Goodreads rating: 4.18 (11978 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4477.Complications?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1365217996l/4477.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4477.Complications?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande[/url]

Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website