Dr. Rana Awdish never imagined that an emergency trip to the hospital would result in hemorrhaging nearly all of her blood volume and losing her unborn first child. But after first visit, Dr. Awdish spent months fighting for her life, enduring consecutive major surgeries and experiencing multiple overlapping organ failures. At each step of the recovery process, Awdish was faced with something … even more unexpected: repeated cavalier behavior from her fellow physicians–indifference following human loss, disregard for anguish and suffering, and an exacting emotional distance.
Hauntingly perceptive and beautifully written, In Shock allows the reader to transform alongside Awidsh and watch what she discovers in our carefully-cultivated, yet often misguided, standard of care. Awdish comes to understand the fatal flaws in her profession and in her own past actions as a physician while achieving, through unflinching presence, a crystalline vision of a new and better possibility for us all.
As Dr. Awdish finds herself up against the same self-protective partitions she was trained to construct as a medical student and physician, she artfully illuminates the dysfunction of disconnection. Shatteringly personal, and yet wholly universal, she offers a brave roadmap for anyone navigating illness while presenting physicians with a new paradigm and rationale for embracing the emotional bond between doctor and patient.
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As a medical professional this book was very eye opening. It was very well written and inspiring. Loved it and have recommended it to others.
Amazing hearing the other side from a doctor.
Very good book
It is amazing that the author survived her ordeal, but I am so glad she learned the need to treat patients in a more human way and is teaching other, new doctors this skill. She is also a wonderful writer, I hope she writes other books someday.
Enlighting as to how driven and no time given for personal space for medical care personal.
Informative, tragic but ended well, aw-inspiring.
This book has arrived at the right time in the medical history of our country. For those of us who have been brushed off by doctors with hubris, it was a breath of fresh air! Now. we just have to figure out how to add our voices, as caregivers, to the conversation about our loved ones so that our day-to-day knowledge is received as a part of the story.
I admire the authors courage and ability to not only face enormous hardship but overcome it, and then go on to fix a system that’s terribly broken. A wonderful book.
I liked it but wonder if people who do not work in the medical field would enjoy it. There are a lot of medical terms used.
Was realistic and traumatic. I really wish she would have talked more about PTSD, which she most certainly had, or PSS, Post Sepsis Syndrome, which she also had. Sepsis Alliance is a great resource for help with those issues. She also needed counseling. Being a four time sepsis survivor (twice in septic shock, the 1st time on a ventilator with multi organ failure, zero blood pressure and lactic acid of 7.5 before surgery for perforated bowel), I am passionate about these issues and awareness. She is very lucky she was able to return back to work. A lot of people are permanently affected by it. Was a great read.
At the same time, terrifying and uplifting.
The author takes us on her journey from doctor to patient suffering a series of life-threatening illnesses, the lessons she learned and how this impacted her treatment of patients. She explains in compelling fashion the training in medical school urging doctors to maintain emotional distance from patients in order to provide the best care for them and the very fine line doctors tread between this necessary emotional removal and compassion for suffering humans. About 2/3rds of the way through the book, though, I found it a bit “preachy”. The point was made (and made well!) so did not require further emphasis. Still, very much worth reading.
Love that the main character is a Doctor & has experienced both sides of the medical coin. I hope every Doctor has a chance to read this…especially if they have never experienced what it is like to be the patient who has no voice.
Overall some good insights into patients feelings that medical personnel need to know. But the author seemed always a physician first and concentrated mostly on the medical technical aspects of her illness.
A must-read for anyone in the helping professions, especially medicine.
I would recommend this book to anyone involved with the current medical system. Her story is tragic, yet heart warming. What a tragedy she had to endure just to feel loved. Our medical system is in need of help and she has pointed out some of its’ worst characteristics.
I appreciate this physician’s extremely personal, revealing look from someone on the inside at the patient experience that is sadly more typical than not in today’s modern medical facilities.
Well written account of author’s arduous medical challenges and the insights she gleaned from them. A must read for all medical professionals.
Gave an amazing description of medical decisions taken/mistaken for patient who is a physician. She has now undertaken a very brave path to inform physicians how important empathy is in any treatment of patients.
Loved this true account of an heroic struggle to live when the author is faced with unimaginable tragedy and mystery illness. The fact that she is a physician gives this book a unique perspective.