The Oath: A Surgeon Under Fire

Book covered in mildew and mold. Unacceptable.

1. The book is a narrative written by Dr Hassan Baiev, a Surgeon from Chechnya, from the diaries written by him during the two wars fought between Chechans and Russians. It is a story of a doctor who lived through the tough and intriguing days of Chechans efforts to seek freedom and Russia's response to those efforts. 2. Born and brought up in Chechnya, Dr Hassan studied Medicines at Siberia. There after he specialized in Plastic Surgery and had a lucrative practice at Moscow. In the run up to first attempt of Chechans to declare independence from Russia and the Russian response, he decided to leave every thing at Moscow and head for his village Alkhan Kala, to be on the side of people suffering the war, Chechans and Russian, rebels and soldiers alike. There were no gains in this move. It only brought misery and sufferings to the doctor. 3. This saga of his velour under fire and self less service continued even during second attempt to seek freedom by Chechans and the usual Russian response ( which the doctor calls second war). In this era of trials and tribulations where at the end both Chechan rebels and Russians wanted the doctor to be killed / arrested for treating Russians and Chechans (including rebels) respectively, he stood firm on his belief and his Hippocratic oath to treat every one who was suffering and needed medical attention. A difficult and tall order indeed to maintain sanity and above all your values, when your own people are dying around you. 4. Some of the events mentioned look unreal to happen in the era of information explosion and the narrative sounds a bit self centred in some parts, but then two things must be remembered. One the war is a dirty business where any thing is possible and second is, he is not a writer by profession but a doctor. What comes out shining out of the book is this mans commitment to his values and his oath as a medical man, two sterling qualities which are fast becoming uncommon in materialistic world of the day. 5. He lives in exile in USA as back home he is a hounded man by both Chechan rebels and Russians. A reading of this book is must for all those who value human life and ethics and who recognize struggle some lone individuals put up to uphold them.

Khassan Baiev wrote absolutely amazing book about his life growing up in the former Soviet Union and later working as a surgeon under extremely harsh wartime conditions in the breakaway republic of Chechnya. His character represents the very best of such human qualities as integrity, compassion, and selfless devotion to duty, which contrast so sharply with all the ugliness of the violent armed conflict between Russia and Chechnya. His life is an extremely powerful story, and I am firmly convinced that his book should be displayed on the front shelves of all bookstores in America. Khassan Baiev's character represents what all of us should strive for - maybe then we have a chance to make our world a better place to live.

I truly feel privileged to have read this book, to have met the author and hear him speak (at the Northwest Book Festival in October 2003). I know of no modern book that brings home the horrors that citizens face during war, while offering the inspiration of the human spirit to go on in the midst of it all, like "The Oath." Baiev's horrific, personal story is worth the read in itself. However, the perspective he brings to the conflict and its origins is incredibly vital to the world situation today. Further, in my humble opinion, the atrocities that surrounded him must be witnessed by those of us who can spread word of what war is truly like. He was chased from his homeland because both the Russians and Chechnyans wanted to kill him for treating the wounded on all sides of the conflict -- and, yes, there are more than two sides to this conflict. Of course, most of the time he treated innocent civilians caught in the middle of it all. He also discusses the process that Putin used to curry President Bush's favor in ignoring Russian atrocities by labeling the Chechnyans as terrorists. In so doing, he shows how terribly abusive this label has become in today's world of politics. I can't recommend a book more than this one. It's a must read, in my opinion.

Khassan Baiev's "The Oath: A Surgeon Under Fire" describes the wrenching field experience of a Chechen doctor who treated the wounded from both sides of the conflict, a work described at a recent American Enterprise Institute conference by Lawrence Uzell, editor of the Jamestown Foundation's "Chechnya Weekly," as "the most important to come out in some years, a classic on the effects of war." (from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty,"(Un)Civil Societies," www.rferl.org/ucs, 16 December 2003.Some book stores may have erred in placing this book only in the back stacks under "health" or "medicine" where it languishes next to diet tips. It belongs prominently displayed in the "politics" and "European history" sections. CAF

This book was a page-turner for me, tugging my emotions in all directions. It brings to vibrant life an alien culture and lifestyle in a way that makes one understand and empathize with those who live it. The descriptions of the seemingly indiscriminate attacks against the civilian population of Chechnya by the overwhelming might of the Russian military machine are sometimes agonizing to read. Anyone who has the least bit of interest in what goes on in the world outside America should be fascinated by this shocking story of a Chechen patriot who consciously chooses good over evil on a daily basis in spite of the extraordinary sacrifices and danger involved. I am haunted by his story but, although there is horror in it, the feeling that stays with me is the deep admiration I feel for Khassan Baiev, a man who did not set out in life to be a hero but became one anyway. He has reaffirmed my belief that there are amazingly good people to be found in all parts of the world.