I never knew about this author, I just picked up this book
from my lending library, after reading the Blurb.
The story is the journey of a Doctor Andrew Mason from his
first day in duty. His insecurities when he joins this profession, his friends
and foes, his passion and convictions. How he slowly builds on his career.
This story covers almost all career options of a Doctor,
starting from being an Assistant in a mining community and then becoming a Doctor in another mining community. Doing
his higher studies and then the research. Then an option to work in a research
organization and then working as an independent medical practitioner. This completes
the full cycle isn’t it!!
The first 2 jobs are dealing with the “card system” Medical
Practice, wherein you are paid a fixed amount for the number of members in the
community (who gives you their cards). I think this system exists even today when each office has a
visiting Doctor. This is technically the lower most line of work in Doctor
Profession in terms of remuneration.
I sometimes felt stopping reading the novel, because it
looks monotonous and predictable. The number of character appearing in one part
will not appear in another as the characters move from one place to another.
Also it’s a predictable story, the hero is always correct with respect to this
diagnosis and is a highly principle man and doesn’t get well with the
environment and then moves on.
But you have to wait till the last part to see the story
actually picking up as it shows that the Hero has shades of negativity as well,
as he pursuits money. Almost 70% of the story was to get to the point since it
was essential to know where he came from.
One important character of this story is the Doctor’s wife
Chris. She was always in his side supporting and comforting him. The relationship
between the Doctor and his wife gets stained when he starts chasing money and
the friction in their relationship is shown very naturally. The Doctor thinks
that his wife wants him always to be poor and when he starts getting rich she
is not appreciating it!
The last part of the story which deals with the money in the
business and the network among the doctors who rotate the rich patients among
themselves!! This is so relevant even today. The revelation happens to this
Doctor only when he realizes that the “network of doctors” who chase money are
not really skilled doctors. This is very dramatic and need not be the case in
real life, there are doctors who chase money and are also very well skilled.
Also the last part of the story talks about the healers
(with no formal degree) and should the doctors work with these unconventional
healers.
Overall this is a story of a man who is searching for
success fuelled by ambition and towards the end almost losses his way but he
comes back strong with a new noble ambition!
