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Library | Material Type | Item Barcode | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Searching... Downtown Branch at Slover | Hardback Book | 0118615274032 | 610.68 MUS | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
2017 Choice Outstanding Academic Title
With over forty years of experience as a sought after diagnostician, Dr. Stuart Mushlin has cracked his share of medical mysteries, ones in which there are bigger gambles than playing the ponies at the track. Some of his patients show up with puzzling symptoms, calling for savvy medical detective work. Others seem to present cut-and-dry cases, but they turn out to be suffering from rare or serious conditions.
In Playing the Ponies and Other Medical Mysteries Solved , Dr. Mushlin shares some of the most intriguing cases he has encountered, revealing the twists and turns of each patient's diagnosis and treatment process. Along the way, he imparts the secrets to his success as a medical detective--not specialized high-tech equipment, but time-honored techniques like closely observing, touching, and listening to patients. He also candidly describes cases where he got things wrong, providing readers with honest insights into both the joys and dilemmas of his job.
Dr. Mushlin does not just treat diseases; he treats people. And this is not just a book about the ailments he diagnosed; it is also about the scared, uncertain, ailing individuals he helped in the process. Filled with real-life medical stories you'll have to read to believe, Playing the Ponies is both a suspenseful page-turner and a heartfelt reflection on a life spent caring for patients.
Reviews (2)
Booklist Review
The practice of medicine offers a parade of individuals passing through a doctor's life, each one presenting a story. And Mushlin, a late-career MD and astute diagnostician, shares some doozies. At times, his patients' symptoms are commonplace back pain, cough, a swollen knee. Be careful though. Serious illness can be in disguise. What appears to be ordinary occasionally reveals itself as rare or even life-threatening. Leprosy, vasculitis, staphylococcal sepsis, hemochromatosis, old syphilis, and Munchausen syndrome all make appearances. But these sketches of memorable patients are also very much about the diligent doctor who cares for them. He comes across as empathetic, philosophical, and humble. His genuine love of his calling and craft is obvious. Uncertainty, resilience, luck (both good and bad), and persistence play big roles in medicine. Acknowledging the physician's inability to cure all cases, Mushlin writes, Sometimes, all we can do is stand by the patient with hope, expertise, and compassion while observing a disease do its worst. Puzzling patients, detective work, and a dedicated doctor nicely packaged in one small, fascinating volume.--Miksanek, Tony Copyright 2017 Booklist
Choice Review
In the preface to his book, Mushlin (Harvard Medical School) calls himself "a privileged witness to the human condition." The author provides insightful narratives of real patient cases that he has encountered in more than 40 years as a physician. These are not dull, clinical scenarios. Mushlin's vivid flair for words brings out the human side of patients suffering from puzzling, rarely seen conditions and, in some cases, life-threatening illnesses. These stories range from touching, mildly humorous, and disturbing to downright strange. Each case reads like a detective story as Mushlin recounts the diagnostic steps involved in the clinical decision-making process. The overarching message is that medical school and residency cannot always prepare physicians for what they might encounter. He also reflects on lessons learned from the variety of health care providers he has worked with over the years. This book will provide a rewarding reading experience to medical students, residents, practicing physicians, and laypeople. Diseases, conditions, and physiological processes are explained in an understandable manner for general readers. The book also holds great value as a teaching tool for medical educators. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers. --Jodi S. Jameson, University of Toledo
Table of Contents
| Introduction |
| Back Pain |
| It's a Small World |
| Everything Really Can Go Wrong in the Hospital |
| Friday Night at Five |
| Learning from the Patient |
| Explosive Illnesses Don't Respond to Homeopathy |
| Sometimes, All We Get Is Close |
| Thinking Can Sometimes Make a Difference |
| The CPC |
| Let the Facts Speak for Themselves |
| Cough |
| Great Imitators |
| Great Imitator Part 2 |
| Playing the Ponies |
| Who's the Greatest of Them All? |
| Making at List and Checking It Twice |
| Moonlighting |
| POEMS |
| Iron Man |
| An Octopus Pot, Voodoo, and Chang and Eng |