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    Confessions of a Surgeon: The Good, the Bad, and the Complicated...Life Behind the O.R. Doors
    Confessions of a Surgeon: The Good, the Bad, and the Complicated...Life Behind the O.R. Doors
    Confessions of a Surgeon: The Good, the Bad, and the Complicated...Life Behind the O.R. Doors
    Audiobook8 hours

    Confessions of a Surgeon: The Good, the Bad, and the Complicated...Life Behind the O.R. Doors

    Written by Paul A. Ruggieri, MD

    Narrated by Eric Jason Martin

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    As an active surgeon and former department chairman, Dr. Paul A. Ruggieri has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of his profession. In Confessions of a Surgeon, he pushes open the doors of the O.R. and reveals the inscrutable place where lives are improved, saved, and sometimes lost. He shares the successes, failures, remarkable advances, and camaraderie that make it exciting. He uncovers the truth about the abusive, exhaustive training and the arduous devotion of his old-school education. He explores the twenty-four-hour challenges that come from patients and their loved ones; the ethics of saving the lives of repugnant criminals; the hot-button issues of healthcare, lawsuits, and reimbursements; and the true cost of running a private practice. And he explains the influence of the "white coat code of silence" and why patients may never know what really transpires during surgery. Ultimately, Dr. Ruggieri lays bare an occupation that to most is as mysterious and unfamiliar as it is misunderstood. His account is passionate, illuminating, and often shocking-an eye-opening, never-before-seen look at real life, and death, in the O.R.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateApr 25, 2017
    ISBN9781541472433
    Confessions of a Surgeon: The Good, the Bad, and the Complicated...Life Behind the O.R. Doors

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    Reviews for Confessions of a Surgeon

    4/5

    61 ratings7 reviews

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    • 3/5
      I have been hunting down and devouring every medical memoir I can find for the past few weeks, and so far, I have loved every one that I've come across. This one, being the memoir of a surgeon, promised to be a favorite. (I am working toward, someday, becoming a surgeon myself).However, I was let down, and didn't find myself enjoying this one all that much.There were some fascinating descriptions of procedures and operations, most notably a few pages describing a Thyroid surgery, but they were few and far between, not to mention the author's mediocre writing skills.In my reading of medical blogs and posts online, I have gotten the impression that surgeons are generally regarded as assholes with control issues and God complexes. This book could be used as evidence for this stereotype.I found the narrator, Dr. Ruggieri, to be absolutely insufferable. His candor and apparent willingness to share both good and bad sides of himself (though I cannot recall any of the good) would have better remained hidden by more description of hospital life and operations.Ruggieri tells us that he loves being in the O.R. so much because he is "God" in there, and yes, he really does use that word - more than once, also calling himself "King of the O.R." He gives little evidence of concern for any of the patients mentioned, but shows much concern over legal trouble, his good name, and having the job require as little work as possible while adding up to the highest paycheck. He never mentions any of the nurse's names, and writes of O.R. scenes as if they are slaves in awe of his every movement.There is nothing necessarily wrong with wanting to get home on time, cursing when a patient unexpectedly crashes, or bragging about your new Porsche. But the way that Ruggieri comes across to the reader is as a disenchanted, crass individual.Besides being an asshole, he is also frequently annoying, using the word "fondle" when talking about human organs numerous times, and having ridiculous conversations with them as well. A partially likable memoir (at times) about an entirely unlikable narrator.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 2/5
      Fresh from reading "Hot lights, cold steel...", I was eager to read this memoir as well only to find myself bored out of my mind. The doctor probably should have hired a ghost writer as his own writing ability is average. I gave the book three chapters worth of my time and threw it in the corner. What a waste of time. This could have been a good book, had it been written by a better writer.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Interesting to see all the regulations that hinder doctors, by making them afraid of getting sued. Also learned some good things to ask a surgeon about if I ever need to get cut. I'd let this doctor operate on me.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed listening to this book and hearing an actual surgeon’s opinion of his profession.

      What bothered me most is the absence of accountability for patients and their families. Access to the NPBD would seemingly benefit
      all involved who care to know and research this information. Doctors and surgeons would be able to strive for excellence knowing this availability is an option.
    • 5/5
      Surgery and the future of surgery according to a practicing physician's perspective - I liked this audiobook. The narrator also deserves a fair amount of applause. A little bit of the book is about the high and rising cost of malpractice insurance.
    • 2/5
      Confessions of a Surgeon: The Good, the Bad, and the Complicated Life behind the O. R. Doors. Paul A. Ruggieri. 2012. The subtitle is a good summery of what this book is about. The author describes his life as a surgeon from medical school until the book was written. There is not a lot new in these revelations. Medical school was tough; have the new guidelines limiting the hours interns and residents can work hurt or helped surgeons and patients? Surgeons are control freaks and egotists who loathe incompetence, and they have to be, because of the nature of their jobs. Many tests and a lot of surgeries are done because of fear of malpractice suits. Threat of malpractice suits are always there. Paper work and government guidelines are a pain.
    • 3/5
      An inside look into the world of a general surgeon, this is a book I am glad I read after my major surgery. Although we all know that surgeons are human like the rest of us, and experience both good and bad days, it is sobering to read the first-hand account of the consequences of the bad days. I appreciate the honesty and transparency of the author, qualities that are not always displayed in the medical profession. I wish the book had been better edited as parts of it were repetitive. A few of the conversations that conveyed information to the reader seemed contrived. All in all, though, a worthy read to find out what happens behind those closed OR doors.