The General Surgeon: Recollections from Four Continents [Paperback]

“Moshe Schein’s life as a surgeon on four continents and his skills as a storyteller make for compelling reading.”Abraham Verghese, Author of Cutting for Stone and The Covenant of Water

This is a story of a 50-year-long surgical life, across four continents, and numerous hospitals — academic, community, and rural — in a few countries. Unlike the typical memoirs of surgeons, glorifying their accomplishments and paying tribute to our noble profession, this memoir is different: it's not written by a surgical ‘giant’ or a famous scientific innovator; it doesn’t tell the story of a surgical Paganini but rather of a surgical workhorse. It portrays a surgical career in the trenches, as it is, in stark colors, warts and all — topics that others prefer not to write or speak about — complications, malpractice, medical politics, and intrigue. Although ‘surgical’ is its claim to fame, this memoir is aimed not only at surgeons or medical practitioners. Whenever possible, the author portrays events and persons against a background and perspective of the various times and places. The General Surgeon pays tribute to the author's brothers in the trenches — the humble, run-of-the-mill general surgeons worldwide.MT

From the prologue:

This is his last day at work; no patients are scheduled to operate or consult. He just walks around, bidding farewell to anyone who recognizes him.

His office has already been emptied. Desk clear, walls bare — diplomas, paintings, photographs of his father and family, treatment algorithms — all gone. The last thing he must do is to return his ID tag — he will not be able to access the clinic and hospital anymore. The clinic laptop must go as well. As of now, he does not belong here any longer. Essentially, his surgical career l`