Among other things medical, Dr. Gawande writes about health care reform, the practice of medicine, and, most recently, about the torturous effects of solitary confinement on prisoners, from Iraq and Afghanistan to international black sites, Guantanamo Bay to the American penal system--by far the largest in the world.
Yeah, he's pretty rad. Been reading his articles for a few years now, but this is the first interview of him I've seen (thanks Charlie). Charmingly compassionate, with the intellect to back it up.
These days, for me anyway, the medical profession isn't held in the highest, or at least as high, regard. For just about the past year (Happy Anniversary, brush with death!), I've had more doctors and appointments, more things poked into me, taken out of me, and put back in, than I care to think about.
And though I'm still here, writing, sometimes it seems as though it's despite it all. For instance, the greatest medical breakthrough and insight in my case history has come not from one of the heads of cardiology at a major NY hospital, but from my brother--and he's a lawyer. So maybe you can understand my underwhelming appreciation of the medical community.
No doubt, the meds I'm on are surely helping to keep me ticking. But, if not for the FDA, I could have prescribed them to myself with a few blood tests and WebMD.com.
To be clear, I'm not expecting a doctor to go all Alexander-the-Great on the Gordian Knot that is my own personal, unending, real-life episode of "House." But a few small cuts wouldn't hurt... hell, it might even help, right?
Anyway, thanks bro!
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