I have just finished reading two books...

[Pierre.Suave]

one was recommended by a poster here, called Rule Number Two: Lessons I Learned in a Combat Hospital

http://www.amazon.com/Rule-Number-Two-Lessons-Hospital/dp/0316067903/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197749237&sr=8-1

And the other is: On Call In Hell: A Doctor's Iraq War Story

http://www.amazon.com/Call-Hell-Doctors-Iraq-Story/dp/B000RWD3GY/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197749982&sr=1-1

I read these at the suggestion of a DUer who said I should read the first one before deciding if I want the Navy to pay for my Med School.

I have to say I am heart broken now, and am unsure if I would even be capable of performing the job of a doctor under those conditions of severe stress, emotionally, mentally, and physically. Both of these books highlight the emotional trauma endured by our servicemen and women, doctors included.

In the first book, Dr. Kraft is a psychiatrist, and the second, Dr. Jadick is a trauma surgeon stationed with the Marines in Falujah in 2004.

Right now, I dont think I can do it, and I dont think I want to subject myself to that level of emotional and mental trauma. Dr Jadick was directly under fire while in the middle of treating a Marine inside the Forward Aid Station, and while going out to pick up casualties.

Both of these books brought me to tears at times.

I have a lot of thinking to do.

What I really want right now is to hold my GF. Luckily for me, her plane lands in a few hours.



:-(

[Pierre.Suave]

1. Wanted to kick this

incase you all did not get a chance to see it over the weekend.

[raccoon]

2. Thanks for those links. It's good you checked that out. nt

[flvegan]

3. My college roomie had the USAF pay for his.

He said he saw shit both as an intern and while serving that he'll never forget. He went gastrointestin-something or other.

[Pierre.Suave]

4. Those two books

have made me hate war even more than I already did...

[triguy46]

5. I would also recommend this one from the Korean war...

the true story of MASH. Dr. Abel recounts how he landed in Korea, (just a few weeks after finishing his surgery residency), was met with a jeep and driver and was in the MASH in just a few hours. They took him directly to surgery, he scrubbed in and operated for more than 36 hours straight. Wearing street clothes under his gown. It is one of the most dramatic things I've read. I've been in healthcare for 30 years and cannot begin to describe the admiration I came away with for combat physicians.

http://www.amazon.com/Mash-Surgeon-Otto-F-Apel/dp/0813120705/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197924854&sr=8-1

[Pierre.Suave]

6. It seems like the toughest job I have ever seen...

or considered.

Definetely challenging.

I got a lot of thinking to do, thats for sure.