Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: Doctor

  • Put Your Feet in the Dirt, Girl

    Put Your Feet in the Dirt, Girl

    There are several strands to Put Your Feet in the Dirt, Girl. There is the journey we take with Doctor Sonia as she travels from Sydney to outback regions and searches for her own identity. There is also what she observes in the current Political and Social aspects of marginalized towns. This is current, unbiased and relevant information that all citizens of Australian cities should read.

    Sonia survived the tough years of being a medical student and studying. Along the way, she became friendly with a heart surgeon who as it later turned out was happily married. As their affair had lasted a few years she was heartbroken.

    Moving on with her life, she signed up for a short stay in the Pilbara, working in the medical clinic there. When she arrived, she said,” I have the sensation that I am seeing the beginning of time itself.”  The author’s descriptions are superb. She has such a love of the beauty of the land and the people. The issues and problems she faced, make a lasting impact on the reader.

    Henry travelled to many other outback places: Broome, Kununurra and north of Alice Springs. She has wonderful stories to tell about her patients and fellow workers. She experienced so much kindness and generosity from the people there who will remain in her life for many years. The Aboriginal plight is very much to the fore of her thinking as she encountered terrible bias and prejudices relating to these First Nation people.

    As we become familiar with the complex person Sonia Henry is, we also become educated in many ways. Her descriptions of Broome, while she is standing on Cable Beach, are truly relatable. Her compassion for the ill treatment she sees, and her efforts to raise awareness of this, are laudable.

  • The Family Doctor

    The Family Doctor

    The recent Women’s March 4 Justice marches around Australia have heightened the awareness of violence again women and the fact that there is still much work to be done to keep women safe; a real problem in society. In her well written book, “The Family Doctor” Debra Oswald explores this complex and complicated issue; resulting in a most timely and powerful narrative.  

    Anita, journalist and court reporter and Paula, a suburban family GP, are devastated when their childhood friendship of twenty five years is shattered by the murder of Stacey and her children by their father, in an extreme case of domestic violence. The friends’ inability to prevent this tragedy has resulted in a sense of guilt; the back story highlights the red flags. Paula becomes extra vigilant for signs of abuse and takes the law into her own hands; setting herself up as judge and executioner.  Meanwhile Anita is consumed with the failings of the judicial system to protect women; how to stop the violence and keep them safe. 

    I highly recommend this thought provoking, suspenseful, engrossing book, however some readers may find it a confronting and difficult read. This gripping thriller explores not only the issue of domestic violence but also those of medical ethics and the justice system, while intertwining the themes of female friendship, revenge, grief, new love and resilience. Book Clubs will find this an excellent vehicle to instigate robust discussions around the moral dilemma ‘Can you justify the taking a life to save others?’

  • Going Under

    Going Under

    Going Under is a really good read, but not for the faint hearted, or those about to undergo hospitalization. The uncomfortable truth is that it was written by a doctor who was doing her internship in a large hospital in Sydney. If it was a fictional story, regarding protocol, setting and processes it would be comfortable, but this is the way she found the journey.

    While we hear about how hard it is for junior Doctors in training hospitals, working many hours without a break, the bullying and harassment they endure, Sonia Henry’s story shows the effect on the individual. This story is followed by statistics of suicide, depression and dropout rates of training doctors, which are appalling.

    Having said that, Katarina is the main character in the story and is a lucky one. She has a group of friends she lives with, two of whom work in the hospital with her. They are hugely supportive of each other, loyal and caring. Despite the enormity of their problems, and the huge learning curve they face, they have a few drinks together and laughter becomes their outlet. The amount of alcohol they consume is rather awesome and the introduction of cocaine to the group is believable but again uncomfortable.

    There are many humorous anecdotes that are quickly shared to keep the group morale going. One of the doctors spends a night in jail for driving under the influence, and he has to do a short safety course along with all the local folk. He tops the course and meets a few pals along the way. During down time which is rare, there are a few extreme behaviours and hilarious unwinding’s which bind the friends even closer together.

    Mostly though, the story is set in the hospital and we follow Katarina on the wards, on her rounds and in theatre. The frustration of having a pager which is never quiet and always demanding, adds to the challenges which the interns face. When a child dies, no one is sure whether it is the procedure that killed him, or natural causes. This and issuing death certificates to bodies brought to the hospital would challenge the most level headed person.

    This book has been written with a purpose, and that is to expose the unnecessary bullying, and hardships put before these interns. Steps are being taken to remedy the culture in teaching hospitals but judging from this story, there is still a long way to go.