Medical sitcoms like Grey's Anatomy, Royal Pains and House have entrenched the intertwining concept of people and their ways with the dry-cut medical procedures that save people in the minds of countless young people the world over. They present the prospect of the ultimate journey of personal growth that stems from constantly engaging with their profession at all points of time. We often attribute medical stories to the heroism of the patient in enduring the painful procedures that they go through and the polished skill of the doctor who is able to execute the procedures with ease. But what happens when a medical story traces a story of endurance, skill, survival, growth, coming to terms with the truth and the emotional pain... of a doctor?
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese is a unique book that puts a whole new perspective on doctors and their journey of personal growth. The story traces the lives of Marion and Shiva Stone, who reside in Mission Hospital in the extremely poor and strife-prone district of Addis Ababa. They are the sons of Sister Mary Joseph Young, a nurse who migrated from India as a missionary nurse, and Thomas Stone, an immensely talented doctor who met Young on the same ship and later worked together at Mission Hospital. After the death of their mother and being abandoned by their father, the twins get cared for by two Indian doctors working at the Hospital. The story is a remarkable journey of how the boys, despite being twins and being so different from each other, pursue their own talents and get to know that medical proficiency runs in their blood. How they adapt to their own understanding of medicine, the emotional journey of making peace with the troubled histories of their parents, and the connect that they have with each other.
Related Links
Source: CoolAge
Author: Shubhangni Gupta, Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi
Frequently Asked Questions
Sorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectur adipiscing elit sed eius mod nt labore dolore magna aliquaenim ad minim sorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectur adipiscing elit sed eius modam.
Sorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectur adipiscing elit sed eius mod nt labore dolore magna aliquaenim ad minim sorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectur adipiscing elit sed eius modam.
Speak to Counselor
Gallery
