Monday, August 10, 2015

Do No Harm

    I just finished reading "Do No Harm" by Henry Marsh. Do no harm is an idea that medicine bases its  practice on so the title is most appropriate. Much of what Henry Marsh writes about is not doing harm and how he agonized over that situation.

   I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as it gave a look into the brain, brain surgery and medical practice.

    For most of us the brain is a mystery. For neurosurgeons like Henry Marsh, they know it's parts, how it works and what they can do. He tells about all the different tumors which may be found in the brain. Each type of tumor has a special method of surgery. For some tumors surgery is not an option. In many cases the tumor grows back and is worse than the first time.

   Henry Marsh finds it difficult when a patient or family wants more surgery and Henry Marsh knows that very little if any good will be accomplished. There are times when surgery should not be done and Marsh did the surgery. This bothered him.

    Another common brain surgery is clamping off aneurysms and repairing other blood vessel problems. Then in surgery he has to work around blood vessels as a major proportion of our blood is in the head and if a vessel is cut it gets very bloody in a hurry.

   Henry Marsh was very honest about mistakes he made and it bothered him terribly. He made sure that patients were aware of the risks.

    Henry Marsh was very honest about his opinions of the health system and how you have to jump through the hoops. Many times it's useless to jump through hoops.

    I enjoyed this book and highly recommend that you read it.

33 comments:

  1. I would not enjoy this book but may well read it.
    It's good to read about things one doesn't and probably will never understand.

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    1. This is written in the layman's language. the book is very readable and there's lots of searing.

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  2. It's nice to read about an honest doctor. I've had doctors I've really respected and were grateful for. I've had a few that shouldn't have been a doctor. Dr. Marsh must have been loved by his patients.

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    1. It's like teachers. Some are great. Most are honest productive people and some stink the joint out.

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  3. An interesting genre to try.I used to watch a surgeon when I was the clean up man in a surgery. He often had me help with emergencies to position them. I marveled at his abilities.

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    1. I've read several good medical books lately.

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  4. Even though it's better to be a pro-active patient and be aware that doctors can make mistakes, it sure was soothing back when we regarded all doctors as perfect gods who knew everything.

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    1. Those were the days. My grandparents had a very high opinion of what doctors could do.

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  5. Hi Red, Thanks for the recommendation. It is pretty amazing what can be done in surgery these days.

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    1. All the remote stuff has revolutionized surgery.

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  6. I went to the library website and placed a hold on the book. I'm #12 in line so it will be awhile. :-)

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    1. I think there were three ahead of me. My library doesn't have the book so it came from another library.

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  7. Sounds like a good read, but perhaps a bit depressing:(

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    1. It's not depressing but we get a good idea of what some people have to go through.

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  8. I have enjoyed reading medical books. It really helps to be aware of what is going on. It's certainly hel[ed us to make a decision NOT to do radiation...

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    1. I think as patients, we're much different than 50 years ago.

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  9. It does sound like an interesting book but I think it might bring out my inner hypochondriac tendencies!

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    1. Well, you wouldn't want any of these conditions.

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  10. Indeed sounds interesting. There is much that is amazing and wonderful about the advances of modern medicine. And much in the entire system from insurance to ethical questions etc. that is seriously flawed.....

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    1. That's what Henry marsh was talking about.

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  11. That sounds like a very interesting read Red. I am going to put that one on my list.

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    1. It's one of those books that you have to talk to somebody about.

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  12. I'm not familiar with it, but I'll look for it.

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    1. If you reserve it in your library lots of people will be ahead of you.

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  13. This sounds like an interesting read. I should check it out.

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  14. Thanks for the review; it sounds quite interesting!

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  15. A member of family had two aneurysms . The Specialists
    removed the one but could not get near to get the second. He said in a year he will try again. I suppose it must be certain size to remove like the first. She is doing well. Driving again and even looking after her Mother who is over 90 young. That is amazing. Your book sounds like a good reader, Would I be able to purchase it from library. Is it a new version? I was all ears when the surgeon. In the rebate on T.V. a couple of nights ago for rebate for a new American President. the other night. Spoke of the brain and the human insite of man . His name was Dr Carson or Carlson.

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    1. You can reserve this at the library but many people will be ahead of you. According to the book they clamp off aneurysms so they have to be big enough for a clamp. It's a recently released book.

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  16. Brief but very encouraging review. I have noticed that I have particular curiousity when I read some medical conditions & stuff in google.

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