Healing the Wounds: 2nd Rev. Ed.

As a UK doctor I found this account chimed to a large extent with my own experience. It is an enjoyable read, very matter of fact, which carries a ring of truth. What shines through is that despite his self doubts, Hilfiker is clearly an excellent and conscientious doctor. "Am I so Bad?" he asks, and the answer is invariably "No, you are just human like the rest of us". Dr Hilfiker recognises that he is a caring sort of person and throughout the book he is self-critical almost to a fault, a refreshing change perhaps from the traditional arrogance of the old style medic. A minor irritation is that his careful effort to avoid gender bias by using 'she' as well as 'he' sounds contrived and unnatural. Fortunately he soon forgets about this, and on the whole his style is simple and unpretentious. The spiritual dimension to this book becomes increasing apparent as one reads through it. Following a period of contemplation in the wilderness (Finland), it makes entire sense that he returns to redeem his sins by working with the poor of inner city Washington, for a reduced salary.

The title refers to how the author handles his eventual burnout, but it's a riveting read for the layman too, especially for the suspenseful daily dilemmas he puts forth. At least one example illustrates each point he has about the frustrations of the medical profession. For example, the "Ethics" chapter has him making a midnight call to a nursing home to treat a 63-year-old woman who has been paralyzed for three years from a stroke. He has to decide whether to treat her mild fever aggressively, moderately, or not at all. It's an excellent look at a demanding profession.

This book does a great job of telling the whole story - the joys and sorrows of being a doctor. Doctors have been gifted in being able to heal the sick but this ability has come with a price that most people are unaware of or other doctors are unwilling to admit to. I admire Dr. Hilfiker's courage as he shares his personal story - a story that is not only very powerful but incredibly emotional. He has written a book that can serve as an inspiration and a source of strength for other doctors.