A timely release about hope in times of sorrow
How Death Becomes Life, a tale of life behind the doors of the operating theatre, is a timely release. Memoirs such as This is Going to Hurt and Hard Pushed have piqued interest in the lives of medical staff: this new addition adds a new layer to our general understanding of hospital life.
Mezrich offers fascinating insights into the world of transplant surgery: its history, its ethics, its successes and its failures. Detailed accounts of the evolution of transplantation are interspersed with personal stories about his patients. Each case is recalled with warmth and humanity, names and personal histories are given (where permission was granted) and the impact of each surgery on the author’s personal and professional development is acknowledged.
Nevertheless, at no point does Mezrich shy away from the difficulties inherent in his work. Whilst patients are recognised as individuals rather than clinical numbers, he is clear about the need to compartmentalise in order to survive in the industry. At times, the tone of the narrative reflects the gallows humour commonly associated with medical life, the reader almost chuckling as the author points out the comic value in otherwise horrifying situations.
The most interesting part of this memoir, for me, were the sections addressing the ethical decisions that transplant teams face every day. Who receives organs from a scarce supply, and should allocation take account of lifestyle choices made leading up to the need for surgery? How can a team protect living donors from pressure to donate? At what point should a surgeon deem their patient too ill for surgery, effectively signing a death warrant in so doing? These difficult decisions are directly addressed, Mezrich offering personal responses to each scenario and refusing to downplay the surrounding controversy.
At the heart of this memoir is an acute awareness that most transplant surgeries are based in tragedy: one person must die in order for another to live. Deceased donors are discussed with compassion and gratitude, the emotional reactions of surviving relatives are explored with empathy. Mezrich’s story is one of hope: it is about bringing life from death, finding fortune in tragedy and offering happiness in times of sorrow.
Mezrich offers fascinating insights into the world of transplant surgery: its history, its ethics, its successes and its failures. Detailed accounts of the evolution of transplantation are interspersed with personal stories about his patients. Each case is recalled with warmth and humanity, names and personal histories are given (where permission was granted) and the impact of each surgery on the author’s personal and professional development is acknowledged.
Nevertheless, at no point does Mezrich shy away from the difficulties inherent in his work. Whilst patients are recognised as individuals rather than clinical numbers, he is clear about the need to compartmentalise in order to survive in the industry. At times, the tone of the narrative reflects the gallows humour commonly associated with medical life, the reader almost chuckling as the author points out the comic value in otherwise horrifying situations.
The most interesting part of this memoir, for me, were the sections addressing the ethical decisions that transplant teams face every day. Who receives organs from a scarce supply, and should allocation take account of lifestyle choices made leading up to the need for surgery? How can a team protect living donors from pressure to donate? At what point should a surgeon deem their patient too ill for surgery, effectively signing a death warrant in so doing? These difficult decisions are directly addressed, Mezrich offering personal responses to each scenario and refusing to downplay the surrounding controversy.
At the heart of this memoir is an acute awareness that most transplant surgeries are based in tragedy: one person must die in order for another to live. Deceased donors are discussed with compassion and gratitude, the emotional reactions of surviving relatives are explored with empathy. Mezrich’s story is one of hope: it is about bringing life from death, finding fortune in tragedy and offering happiness in times of sorrow.