Better Atul Gawande Sparknotes

“Better: A Surgeon’s Notes on Performance” is a uniquely enlightening and very comprehensive book that should be read by anyone interested in the medical field or someone who is entering it for the first time. Atul Gawande, being an experience general and specialized surgeon, speaks with an intellectual and knowledgeable tone throughout the book. Topics range from what someone might think is unusual for a surgeon to speak about, handwashing. You would think that a surgeon would be far enough in the field of medicine to where handwashing was just another part of daily life, however the book is called “A Surgeon’s Notes of Performance” for a reason. Gawande goes step by step through the process of how the lack of handwashing is actually a big
problem within many medical institutions, and that he himself is guilty of not following the simple procedure. Gawande effortlessly transitions from talking about one topic, to a completely different topic. He bases his whole book on “three core requirements for success in medicine - or in andy endeavor that involves risk and responsibility.” These three requirements are diligence, doing right, and ingenuity.
Atul Gawande describes diligence as “the necessity of giving sufficient attention to detail to avoid error and prevail against obstacles.” He then divides the section on diligence into three other sections, handwashing, the fight to eradicate polio in India, and military medical operations and casualties. Gawande vividly illustrates stories and experiences into a lesson that can be learned by anyone, not just medically related people. Atul Gawande continues to talk about his three core requirements while dividing them into easy to comprehend parts. In my opinion, “Better” is an eye-opening book that shows the flawed nature of modern medicine around the world and how hardworking physicians and caretakers are able to use a wide set of skills, including the three core requirement of diligence, doing right, and ingenuity, to learn and adapt to their setting and situation and transform care for their patients despite the odds stacked against them. “Better” is all about the failures of medicine, and how we improve from those
mistakes.

When I first picked up this book, I expected to be reading about the life story of Atul Gawande and his experiences in surgery.
I did get this from the book as his personal experiences are seen and he expands into a variety of topics and allows the reader to gain an insight into the interconnected and hyperactive world of medicine. Gawande’s use of simple prose was easy to read and kept me hooked on the book. He simplified the very complex and tortuous setup of the medical world into layman’s terms that appeals to a wide range of audiences. If I could respond directly to Atul Gawande, I would have a huge amount of questions, not only because I am interested in a medical career, but also because I want to know how he deals with the amount of pain and suffering he sees as a surgeon. How he deals with the extreme stress of operating on a patient who might have a very serious disease and being expected to save their life. “Eleven minutes after I got the page, Magboo was on the operating table, a sedative going into her arm. Her skin was cleansed. Her body was draped. The breast cancer came out without difficulty. Her lymph nodes proved to be free of metastasis. And she was done. She woke up calmly as we put on the dressing.” This is one of the scenes in the book where Gawande operates of Virginia Magboo, who has breast cancer. What I was so surprised by was the level of calmness Gawande exudes through his writing. He seems to be in complete control of the situation and
completes the operation without bringing up his stress or anxiety. As a surgeon becomes more and more experienced, simpler surgeries must become more and more “easy” for them to perform. I would ask Atul Gawande how he is able to manage stress and if he had any tips or measures he personally takes before a surgery.

Atul Gawande presents his argument in a structured, almost chronological order where he describes the problem, talks about how the people involved solved the problem, and the effects of solving the problem. Gawande is able to tie the whole book into his central thesis of the three core requirements successfully because he relates back to those while introducing new topics. When reading “Better”, the reader might want to have a basic understanding of the medical field, including common words and abbreviations. Although it is not necessary it is definitely helpful when you know the “lingo” so you are not confused about the events in the situation Gawande is describing. I highly recommend anyone who is currently a health professional, wants to be a health professional, or just wants a good read to pick up “Better”.