Coma
-Robin Cook
“In Boston’s largest hospital, two patients undergoing routine surgery fall victim to a baffling mishap.
They never regain consciousness.
Fighting against the scorn of her colleagues and the medical establishment, on brave woman starts to investigate the coma cases: steadily uncovering something unbelievably hideous…”
How would you not be excited to read a book with such an intriguing back-cover blurb??
Welcome to the world of Medical Thrillers of Robin Cook, where Medical Science meets Fiction. I am going to review the most coveted gem of his collection, COMA.
Set in the 70’s, the story revolves around Susan Wheeler, a 3rd Year Medical student who has just started her first clinical rotation in the Surgery department at Boston Memorial Hospital. Being a female in the then male dominated field, she is extremely competitive; a straight A student, not known to show much emotion. Being shoved in the real hospital world unprepared, she encounters Nancy Greenly, a routine D&C patient, who never quite woke up. The similarity of age and sex moves Susan emotionally, and she perseveres to find the cause of such a mishap.
The plot moves along the investigation and its hurdles as an impossible truth awaits at the end.
Interspersed with interesting Medical jargon, the story addresses an important social issue. A must read for all medicos. I especially liked the way the hospital setting of that era is described...the ICUs, Operating Rooms,etc.
All the books by Cook follow this interesting way of narrative. I am planning to write a whole series on him.
Feedback is welcome. If you have read other Robin Cook's books, do write in the comment section.
- Vraj Shah
Second year, M.B.B.S.
This seems interesting! Added to my 'To-Read' list!
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