Intern: A Doctors Initiation

Sandeep Jauhar

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Intern is Dr. Sandeep Jauhar's story of his days and nights in residency at a busy hospital in New York City, a trial that led him to question his every assumption about medical care today. Residency―and especially its first year, the internship―is legendary for its brutality, and Jauhar's experience was even more harrowing than most.

He switched from physics to medicine in order to follow a more humane calling―only to find that his new profession often had little regard for patients' concerns. He struggled to find a place among squadrons of cocky residents and doctors.

He challenged the practices of the internship in The New York Times, attracting the suspicions of the medical bureaucracy. Then, suddenly stricken, he became a patient himself―and came to see that today's high-tech, high-pressure medicine can be a humane science after all.

Jauhar's beautifully written memoir explains the inner workings of modern medicine with rare candor and insight.

What will you learn from this book

  1. Realities of Medical Training: Jauhar gives readers a glimpse into the demanding and rigorous nature of medical training, highlighting the challenges faced by interns as they navigate long hours, high-stress situations, and ethical dilemmas.

  2. Emotional Toll: The book explores the emotional toll that medical training takes on interns, as they grapple with issues such as patient suffering, death, and their own limitations in providing care.

  3. Hierarchy in Medicine: Jauhar sheds light on the hierarchical structure within the medical profession, illustrating how this can impact communication, decision-making, and the overall learning experience for interns.

  4. Patient-Doctor Relationship: Through his anecdotes, Jauhar emphasizes the importance of the patient-doctor relationship and the impact that empathy, compassion, and effective communication can have on patient outcomes.

  5. Ethical Dilemmas: Interns often face ethical dilemmas in their day-to-day practice, and the book explores some of these dilemmas, such as balancing patient autonomy with medical necessity and grappling with end-of-life decisions.

  6. Learning from Mistakes: Jauhar reflects on the importance of learning from mistakes and the humility required to acknowledge one's limitations as a physician, highlighting the significance of ongoing self-improvement and professional growth.

  7. The Burden of Responsibility: Interns carry a significant burden of responsibility as they make critical decisions that impact patient care, and the book delves into the psychological impact of shouldering this responsibility.

  8. The Human Side of Medicine: Amidst the clinical aspects of medicine, Jauhar emphasizes the human side of healthcare, portraying the vulnerability of patients and the emotional connections that develop between doctors and those they care for.

  9. Systemic Issues in Healthcare: The book touches upon systemic issues within the healthcare system, such as resource limitations, bureaucratic hurdles, and disparities in access to care, which can affect both patients and healthcare providers.

  10. Personal Growth and Resilience: Despite the challenges faced during internship, Jauhar also highlights moments of personal growth, resilience, and the camaraderie that develops among medical professionals as they navigate the complexities of their profession.

Language English
ISBN-10 0374531595
ISBN-13 9780374531591
No of pages 320
Font Size Medium
Book Publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Published Date 06 Jan 2009

About Author

Author : Sandeep Jauhar

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