Joshua Mezrich is upfront stating this book is part memoir and part a history of how transplants are a possibility but not a full history of either.
As a Brit I found reading the experiences of an American surgeon within the context of their health care system very interesting and opened my eyes to how it developed.
I like the layout, very well done, it clearly discusses the different organs interwoven with the history of the ability to transplant each one and rounds off with looking at individual stories.
It at points could be a little dry but was well balanced with his life story and I loved how he explains how clinical and cold the process of selection needs to be whilst also reflecting on the human cost of these decisions and that quality of life in the interim is not factored in. He highlights the lack of consideration for psychological or financial factors when people are both waiting for organs and following this - recognising the need to fully treat alcoholics, not just stick a new kidney in them and send them on their way. This is the same in Britain and this really needs to shift.
I work in health care which helped with understanding what he was referring to as he doesn’t explain every medical/biological word/term used (although at essential points he does) which I think may make it a little difficult reading for the general lay person to understand without googling a few terms.
Overall fascinating reading.
As a Brit I found reading the experiences of an American surgeon within the context of their health care system very interesting and opened my eyes to how it developed.
I like the layout, very well done, it clearly discusses the different organs interwoven with the history of the ability to transplant each one and rounds off with looking at individual stories.
It at points could be a little dry but was well balanced with his life story and I loved how he explains how clinical and cold the process of selection needs to be whilst also reflecting on the human cost of these decisions and that quality of life in the interim is not factored in. He highlights the lack of consideration for psychological or financial factors when people are both waiting for organs and following this - recognising the need to fully treat alcoholics, not just stick a new kidney in them and send them on their way. This is the same in Britain and this really needs to shift.
I work in health care which helped with understanding what he was referring to as he doesn’t explain every medical/biological word/term used (although at essential points he does) which I think may make it a little difficult reading for the general lay person to understand without googling a few terms.
Overall fascinating reading.