The Surgeon

by W.C. Heinz

A great novel about the daily life of a surgeon

First published January 1, 1955

Reviews

[Mariano Solores · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valoración exacta: 4/10

Dudé hasta último momento sobre cómo valorar esta novela. Iba a ponerle solo dos estrellas, pero finalmente opté por que sean tres. Sin embargo, no es siquiera un "aprobado"; tiene unas pocas cosas que me gustaron, y varias más que no.

Del lado positivo:
No está mal escrita y en general el relato es fluido y no aburre; además se nota que el autor investigó sobre el tema, y ofrece unas cuantas explicaciones sobre los procedimientos médicos que tienen cierto interés.

Ahora, vamos a lo negativo:
Por empezar, no cumple ni siquiera con lo que promete desde el subtítulo: "Una novela sobre un hombre dedicado y su dramática vida". Es doblemente falaz. En primer lugar, porque la novela no habla principalmente de eso. El grueso de la trama transcurre en un solo día o, mejor dicho, en poco menos de medio día: desde las seis de la mañana hasta las tres de la tarde. Es cierto que a través de sucesivos raccontos nos va contando la historia del protagonista, desde sus inicios como estudiante de medicina hasta los días previos al que nos ocupa, pero no es ni por lejos lo principal, ni en cantidad de páginas ni en importancia narrativa. Segunda, el adjetivo "dramática" para referirse a su vida le queda enorme: la suya es una vida de esfuerzos y sacrificios para alcanzar el éxito en su profesión (como son muchísimas vidas), pero no hay nada ni especialmente trágico ni demasiado emotivo en ella.
Por otro lado, el eje conflictivo de la novela deja mucho que desear. Es cierto que el título nos advierte que se trata de un cirujano, pero imaginé algo más en el estilo de El psicoanalista de Katzenbach; quizás no a ese extremo, pero sí que la profesión del protagonista diera pie a que ocurriera algo extraordinario, que realmente generara tensión. Sin embargo, se trata de un día perfectamente normal en la vida de este hombre: atiende a sus citas, flirtea con las enfermeras y recepcionistas, se ve obligado a dar una mala noticia al esposo de una de sus pacientes... Lo único "diferente" es que ese día probarán un nuevo método para extirpar un tumor cancerígeno, método que ya intentaron una vez sin éxito y que confían que esta vez, con mejor preparación, pueda funcionar. No es lo más emocionante del mundo, precisamente.

Dejo como dato curioso, mientras leía no puede evitar sorprenderme ante el nivel de machismo que había en sus páginas, muy propias de mitad de los años '50, época en que transcurre la novela. Me imagino el escándalo que haría el público woke de hoy, ante algunas de las expresiones que utiliza el protagonista: desde referirse en términos como "ojazos" o "preciosa" a las enfermeras, hasta frases como: "No, doctor, está agarrando las tijeras como una mujer. Se hace así." O bien esta: "Sally no tiene una gran inteligencia y algunos la consideran un poco brusca, pero alguien debería haberse casado con ella."

En fin, un libro que se puede leer; no es insoportable pero tampoco es una lectura que nos vaya a llenar de emociones.

[Desira]

because of this book, every time I have food go down the wrong way, I worry I will one day need lung surgery because of it.

[Christine Howard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't seem realistic this author was writing about a subject he didn't have true knowledge and it seemed he relied on research instead of talking to someone in the field. I spent over 30 years in surgery at the same time as this novel. We never called our circulating nurse anything but that a floater covered more than one room. A tonsil suction wasn't called a tonsil sucker when needed they asked for suction. It is hard to imagine a surgeon this introspective thoracic surgeons especially cardiac ones thought they were god and acted like it. I worked with a surgeon who developed new techniques he didn't act like this.

[Jennifer Morefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story about a day in the life of a surgeon. As I read it, I thought about the victories and defeats this thoracic surgeon had. I was impressed how he used his defeats to work until he could make a procedure a success. I thought about how he remembered back to the people he helped, the people he failed, and the people he saved. A surgeon never finishes learning and improving. Dr. Carter was a great surgeon who influenced others to be great. He was modest but confident. I just really enjoyed this story.

[Charles Currens · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good.

[John Pitcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually found this more interesting than I thought I would, especially since it follows the day in a surgeon’s life.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

W. C. Heinz uses the composite character of a lung surgeon as a vehicle for protraying the manner in which professionals, patients and materials interact in a hospital setting. He cuts, stitches and patches the piece together much like one might perform an actual operation. The work has a nice cadence to it and is equally valuable to readers interested in surgery as a medical workspace as to readers interested in the more technical aspects of surgery itself.

Dr. Lewis First, chair of pediatrics at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, says "The Surgeon is the kind of book that raises the bar when it comes to how physicians should interact with their patients." [Quotation from The View from the University of Vermont, May 14, 2002.]

How much information do you believe a patient should be given about their medical condition? How honest should a surgeon be with a patient about medical outcomes? How much would you want to know?

How much does the quality of surgeons' work depend on their relationship with their patients? How much depends on their curiousity about the physical material at hand?

Expect more good questions than answers.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another book by W. C. Heinz. Goodreads seems to have trouble dredging up a picture or author attribution.

See my review of "The Professional," by Heinz.

"The Surgeon" is an extremely warm and detailed book about the successes and failures of a surgeon in a large metro center.

Not too long ago, my wife and I were ghostwriters for a memoir by a physician, so we have some insights into the problem of writing about such technical yet emotional subjects. This book handles the inherent problems well, due to the considerable narrative skills of the author.

Highly recommended if the subject matter holds any appeal.

I'm sending my copy to the doc whose memoir we ghosted. I know he'll enjoy it. I'm that confident of the novel's technical accuracy.

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well worth the time for considering being a physician or who has has surgery or supporting someone through surgery.

[Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the book The Surgeon, by W.C. Heinz.
I am currently trying to afire my own personal copy. If anyone knows where i could look please let me know.

[Margareth8537 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite sure where this turned up from, but an interesting read