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Tender is the Scalpel's Edge: Stories from the Journal of an NHS Consultant Surgeon
Glimpses from the journal of an NHS consultant surgeon.
What is it like to be the senior surgeon when a young woman is brought to casualty with a life-threatening bleed?
What does the fear of cancer do to a person?
Is it ever best not to tell the patient everything?
Tender is the Scalpel’s Edge draws on Gautam Das’s real-life experiences working in Britain’s busy NHS hospitals, from the plunging depths of a patient dying on the operating table to the euphoria of a life saved by teamwork and skill. Described in exquisite detail and with extreme sensitivity, Gautam shares his journey from a medical student fighting his own inner demons to a senior NHS consultant surgeon.
Shards of his earlier life in India add to the richness of the narrative in tales that observe life with all its contradictions, like the little village boy with bone cancer. While other anecdotes take in the lighter side of life, Tender is the Scalpel’s Edge is written to inform and engross the general reader, as well as those with a curiosity of life behind the surgeon’s mask.
Written in a manner similar to other medical biographies including Henry Marsh’s Do No Harm, Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal and When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, Tender is the Scalpel’s Edge is a moving collection of true stories from a professional at the frontline of medical care.
What is it like to be the senior surgeon when a young woman is brought to casualty with a life-threatening bleed?
What does the fear of cancer do to a person?
Is it ever best not to tell the patient everything?
Tender is the Scalpel’s Edge draws on Gautam Das’s real-life experiences working in Britain’s busy NHS hospitals, from the plunging depths of a patient dying on the operating table to the euphoria of a life saved by teamwork and skill. Described in exquisite detail and with extreme sensitivity, Gautam shares his journey from a medical student fighting his own inner demons to a senior NHS consultant surgeon.
Shards of his earlier life in India add to the richness of the narrative in tales that observe life with all its contradictions, like the little village boy with bone cancer. While other anecdotes take in the lighter side of life, Tender is the Scalpel’s Edge is written to inform and engross the general reader, as well as those with a curiosity of life behind the surgeon’s mask.
Written in a manner similar to other medical biographies including Henry Marsh’s Do No Harm, Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal and When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, Tender is the Scalpel’s Edge is a moving collection of true stories from a professional at the frontline of medical care.
- GenresNonfictionMedical
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 13, 2016
17 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Gautam Das
1 book3 followersI've had the honour and privilege of working in the NHS for nearly four decades, the last twenty-six years as a consultant surgeon.
I'm a senior member of BAUS (British Association of Urological Surgeons) and a patron of the South East Cancer Help Centre.
Writing books is my new career, my third. (I have been a television newscaster).
My time is spent equally between the great city of London and the Canadian Rockies.
I'm a senior member of BAUS (British Association of Urological Surgeons) and a patron of the South East Cancer Help Centre.
Writing books is my new career, my third. (I have been a television newscaster).
My time is spent equally between the great city of London and the Canadian Rockies.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 24, 2017
A thought provoking read, articulately written and sensitive to the patients the author has referenced. This memoir details a young aspiring doctor from India as he studies and eventually becomes appointed a senior surgeon in urology for the NHS.
I enjoyed, as with other medical memoirs, the authors stories of memorable patient experiences. The exploration of urology and in particular cancers which effect the bladder, kidneys and prostate are intriguing to read about. As a nurse, I was a little dismayed to read a sentence where the author is frustrated with "a mere nurse" - I didn't think this was respectful. Having said that, later on in the book the author acknowledges the excellent clinical knowledge and skills his nursing colleagues offer his patients.
Much of the writing jumped between decades which did make it a little difficult to follow. However, I would like to read a second helping of the authors career.
I enjoyed, as with other medical memoirs, the authors stories of memorable patient experiences. The exploration of urology and in particular cancers which effect the bladder, kidneys and prostate are intriguing to read about. As a nurse, I was a little dismayed to read a sentence where the author is frustrated with "a mere nurse" - I didn't think this was respectful. Having said that, later on in the book the author acknowledges the excellent clinical knowledge and skills his nursing colleagues offer his patients.
Much of the writing jumped between decades which did make it a little difficult to follow. However, I would like to read a second helping of the authors career.
December 23, 2017
I very much enjoyed this book, which I read within one day. Having had radical nephrectomy myself it was very interesting to learn more about the work of a urology surgeon. I was very interested to read about the actual steps of a nephrectomy and learn that urology is amongst the most difficult of surgical specialities. I also found the stories of the author's training and in Calcutta very interesting. The book is filled with warmth. My 91 year old mother has now also devoured it in one day. I will be be recommending the book to my consultant urologist at Addenbrooke's, although I expect he may have already read it.
January 9, 2018
A wonderfully, eloquently written set of anecdotes from the pen of an NHS surgeon. I couldn't put this book down, the chapters are short, to the point but engaging and enjoyable. There is medical jargon, but the author explains each piece of terminology during the chapter regarding it. I admit to laughing at a few of the anecdotes and shedding a tear at others, it's a mixed bag full of joy and sadness, which is much what I imagine a surgeon's life to be like.
Mr. Gautam Das is a very good author. His book is very easy to read without shying away from the more complex medical jargon that is required in his field of work. He brings to life each story with each patient with ease, and it's not hard to imagine how he felt after each chapter.
If he ever reads this review - I'd like to thank him for the dedication he has shown to the NHS. He sounds like a very caring, compassionate individual which is what the NHS requires. So thank you, Mr. Das, for your work in the NHS.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes anecdotal books, anyone who wants to learn more about the NHS or anyone interested in urology (as that is the author's field).
Mr. Gautam Das is a very good author. His book is very easy to read without shying away from the more complex medical jargon that is required in his field of work. He brings to life each story with each patient with ease, and it's not hard to imagine how he felt after each chapter.
If he ever reads this review - I'd like to thank him for the dedication he has shown to the NHS. He sounds like a very caring, compassionate individual which is what the NHS requires. So thank you, Mr. Das, for your work in the NHS.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes anecdotal books, anyone who wants to learn more about the NHS or anyone interested in urology (as that is the author's field).
January 22, 2019
A real insight into medicine and what it is like to be a doctor within the NHS. A serious book including a timeline of stories regarding surgery, family life, perseverance, remarkable patients, life, death and everything in between.
Throughout the book, Das displayed great empathy and sensitivity to the patients he wrote about - all of the anecdotes were thought provoking, most of them making me either laugh or cry, or both.
Das has a way of explaining the more complex material in this book so simply. I learnt a a lot from his work and words. With short, concise but jam packed chapters, this book took me all of one night shift to read - I simply couldn’t put it down.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone, especially aspiring doctors, nurses and anyone else working towards a medical vocation.
Throughout the book, Das displayed great empathy and sensitivity to the patients he wrote about - all of the anecdotes were thought provoking, most of them making me either laugh or cry, or both.
Das has a way of explaining the more complex material in this book so simply. I learnt a a lot from his work and words. With short, concise but jam packed chapters, this book took me all of one night shift to read - I simply couldn’t put it down.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone, especially aspiring doctors, nurses and anyone else working towards a medical vocation.
February 5, 2018
Calcutta & Beyond
This book was a joy to read.Mr Das paints a colourful picture in every chapter.He was very aware of his privileged upbringing in Calcutta this made him very empathetic to those he met who were not.As a successful urologist he recounts events & patients he has met in several heartwarming chapters.
This book was a joy to read.Mr Das paints a colourful picture in every chapter.He was very aware of his privileged upbringing in Calcutta this made him very empathetic to those he met who were not.As a successful urologist he recounts events & patients he has met in several heartwarming chapters.
May 7, 2018
i've read many medical anecdote books. some i've relished, some were a drag. tender is the scalpel's edge is one of the former. i loved that the accounts seemed (and were, i'm certain) real and not over dramatised. i consumed the medical details with gusto. you can't help but love Dr Das and his colleagues.
July 20, 2017
Excellent
Very good description of a surgeon training and development to becoming a consultant. Yet he still has a human touch.
Very good description of a surgeon training and development to becoming a consultant. Yet he still has a human touch.
April 21, 2017
An honest and critical account of his life's work. It was an interesting comparison between the work he carried out in India compared to that of the UK. I found it particularly fascinating the stories to do with his residency in Croydon as I have lived in the area for many years. It was moving to read about his successes but also how it affected him as a surgeon when things did not go as planned. Hearing the story from the consultants side brings a very human touch and shows his compassion in carrying out his work. The fact he can remember and write about in detail his case histories shows his dedication to his art and passion for caring.
December 28, 2016
Tender is the Scalpel’s Edge is a medical biography by Gautam Das a senior urology surgeon practising in Britain's NHS hospitals.
True stories are taken from his journal & range from death during surgery to the excitement of saving a patient's life. Teamwork & skill combined with medical advances are shown to greatly increase the likelihood of a successful outcome.
Glimpses of Gautam's childhood in India mingle with tales of his student days & as a fully qualified consultant. His story reveals the human side to medical care including a sense of humour. Readers are treated to an in depth narrative of medical matters in the hope it creates understanding &/or inspires interest in medical study.
I initially thought the story would be better suited to a reader with a medical background. This was due to the in-depth detail & having to look up the meaning of words not in every day use. I am glad that I persevered as I was shown the human side to a surgeon, one I had not previously considered. The information on medical conditions & treatment became very interesting & easy to understand. This story has increased my admiration for doctors & the work they do.
True stories are taken from his journal & range from death during surgery to the excitement of saving a patient's life. Teamwork & skill combined with medical advances are shown to greatly increase the likelihood of a successful outcome.
Glimpses of Gautam's childhood in India mingle with tales of his student days & as a fully qualified consultant. His story reveals the human side to medical care including a sense of humour. Readers are treated to an in depth narrative of medical matters in the hope it creates understanding &/or inspires interest in medical study.
I initially thought the story would be better suited to a reader with a medical background. This was due to the in-depth detail & having to look up the meaning of words not in every day use. I am glad that I persevered as I was shown the human side to a surgeon, one I had not previously considered. The information on medical conditions & treatment became very interesting & easy to understand. This story has increased my admiration for doctors & the work they do.
December 25, 2016
Disclosure: I received an electronic copy of this book for review from NetGalley
I asked to review this on NetGalley almost solely based on what the cover seem to indicate I would be in for, and I wasn't disapointed.
This a thoughtful memoir by Gautam Das who has a long successful consultant as a Consultant Urologist. (I think if I had know specifically the book was about a urologist I might have been a bit turned off - but glad I didn't know too much about what I was in for).
Das recounts his early days of training and education in India and then England. Das touches on the personal as well as the professional and actually does much to dispell the image of the cold, detached and emotionless surgeon we are often taught to expect.
The annecdotes are well recounted and although not in chronological order flow well. There isn't too much medical jargon to confound the lay person.
All in all a very good read about a compassionate doctor's lifetime of experiences.
I asked to review this on NetGalley almost solely based on what the cover seem to indicate I would be in for, and I wasn't disapointed.
This a thoughtful memoir by Gautam Das who has a long successful consultant as a Consultant Urologist. (I think if I had know specifically the book was about a urologist I might have been a bit turned off - but glad I didn't know too much about what I was in for).
Das recounts his early days of training and education in India and then England. Das touches on the personal as well as the professional and actually does much to dispell the image of the cold, detached and emotionless surgeon we are often taught to expect.
The annecdotes are well recounted and although not in chronological order flow well. There isn't too much medical jargon to confound the lay person.
All in all a very good read about a compassionate doctor's lifetime of experiences.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews