PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE . . .

Another book you should all read: Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science, by Atul Gawande. It is a small compilation of short essays about this surgical resident's life as a surgical resident. It's not too chock-full of scientific terms, but there are enough to make you feel like you're watching a particularly good episode of "ER" or "CSI." Gawande writes like I imagine he might talk -- no excessively long words or hazy concepts here. Just good, honest story-telling about the highs and lows of being a surgeon, making mistakes, healing people, hanging out with other surgeons, and exploring the mysteries of the human body and the increasingly bizarre science of medicine. I think I'm going to buy it for all my medical-type friends. The rest of you should put your names on the waiting list at your local library. It'll make you want to go back to school and become a doctor . . .