A Google user
The book is well written, but more research, particularly into the way actions for medical negligence are run would have improved it. Complaining that a matter has not been resolved within 6 weeks of a death (and attributing the "delay" to the fact that lawyers charge by the hour) demonstrates only that the author has no understanding of what a lawyer does in preparing a case, or of the court process. It was surprising that she had even heard from the plaintiff's lawyer within 6 weeks of the girl dying.
Any lawyer, even one of questionable competence, would have been onto the major clue within 60 seconds of the commencement of the first consultation (I won't reveal what it is, but it involves another person in the operating theatre).
Good defence lawyers would also put a little more energy into defending what looks on its face to be an eminently defendable case. Retaining an expert witness would have been a good start, as would pursuing the clues which hung in the air like the fumes from a skunk.
Dr Cassella may despise lawyers, but it would have paid to overcome her revulsion for an hour or two to have a conversation with one.
Just one other little gripe: the amount doctors are paid is painted as an incidental and surprising bonus to a life of service. Payment to a lawyer seems to be against the laws of nature. The fact that the lawyers in this case seemed to do nothing except make sympathetic phone calls, or attend funerals to hand out business cards, might explain that.
By the way, if you receive a business card from a lawyer at a funeral, you should report it to the bar association in your state.
Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 7.3 provides, in part, as follows:
(d) A lawyer shall not solicit professional employment as a private practitioner for the lawyer, a partner or associate through direct personal contact or through live telephone contact, with a non-lawyer who has not sought advice regarding employment of a lawyer.
All American states have equivalent rules.
(And all I had to do to find that was a bit of googling for about 10 minutes. As research goes, it was not difficult.)
This book is well written. Dr Cassella has a wonderful way of describing what an anesthesiologist does, clearly from years of hands on research, and a passion for the importance and benefit of the job to society. But when writing about a legal matter, it is important to understand how legal process works, what lawyers do, and to give lawyers a little credit for having the capacity for professional competence and rational thought.
Jennifer Gastelum
As a recent medical school graduate about to start my anesthesiology residency... I found this book very realistic and interesting. I felt great empathy for Dr. Heaton as she struggled with her guilt with feeling responsible for the death of her patient. It is the greatest fear of all doctors. I will highly recommend this book to my friends and family.