Riveting, revealing stories of patient denial.
A superb collection of real-life medical mysteries.
Patients and doctors can both have blind spots. For example, a doctor will occasionally make or refute a diagnosis based on nothing more than pride, despite a career’s worth of experience. Patients, however, sometimes troublingly deny obvious symptoms or refuse to divulge relevant information. In most cases, these patient behaviors lead to prolonged illness and pain or, in the worst cases, a patient’s death. In these nine beautifully written, captivating case studies, Halkin presents true stories of patient denial from his own experience as a physician. These complicated medical mysteries concern not only the body, but also psychological, often subconscious motives. In one such case, a young executive presents with symptoms of a rare, life-threatening ailment called Gaucher’s disease, including a yearlong low-grade fever. The patient and his wife claim that he’s never been diagnosed—until after he is prepped for an invasive procedure, when he suddenly, calmly claims says that he remembers the diagnostic tests. It turns out that after the prior diagnosis, which should have had the couple rethinking their lives, they had continued as though the doctor had told them all was well and suppressed the memory. Halkin asks: Is this behavior self-destruction or self-preservation? The author uses his formidable psychological insight not only to understand his patients’ and colleagues’ baffling behavior, but also to analyze himself (“Could I have put their right to denial before my responsibility to warn them as best I could?”). Although readers may find it chilling to consider that patients could purposely subvert their own diagnoses and treatments, they may find it illuminating to read about the complex dance of trust and fear in doctor-patient relationships.
Riveting, revealing stories of patient denial.Pub Date: Oct. 14, 2013
ISBN: 978-1490423524
Page Count: 198
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Dec. 19, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996
ISBN: 0-15-100227-4
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An extravaganza in Bemelmans' inimitable vein, but written almost dead pan, with sly, amusing, sometimes biting undertones, breaking through. For Bemelmans was "the man who came to cocktails". And his hostess was Lady Mendl (Elsie de Wolfe), arbiter of American decorating taste over a generation. Lady Mendl was an incredible person,- self-made in proper American tradition on the one hand, for she had been haunted by the poverty of her childhood, and the years of struggle up from its ugliness,- until she became synonymous with the exotic, exquisite, worshipper at beauty's whrine. Bemelmans draws a portrait in extremes, through apt descriptions, through hilarious anecdote, through surprisingly sympathetic and understanding bits of appreciation. The scene shifts from Hollywood to the home she loved the best in Versailles. One meets in passing a vast roster of famous figures of the international and artistic set. And always one feels Bemelmans, slightly offstage, observing, recording, commenting, illustrated.
Pub Date: Feb. 23, 1955
ISBN: 0670717797
Page Count: -
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1955
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
