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Critical Care: A Novel
Dr. Peter Werner Ernst is an internal medicine resident at a major hospital's intensive care unit. He functions on eight hours of sleep for every three shifts at work. Overseeing the care of eight patients, Dr. Ernst's job is to keep death at bay--at least until the day shift comes on, and any potential death goes on someone else's record.
When Felicia Potter enters the ward to visit her comatose father, Dr. Ernst sees the opportunity to spice up his grim routine with a little romance. What he cannot see is how his relationship with the young attractive model will call into question his integrity, his dedication to his career, and just how far he will go for the sake of his lust.
When Felicia Potter enters the ward to visit her comatose father, Dr. Ernst sees the opportunity to spice up his grim routine with a little romance. What he cannot see is how his relationship with the young attractive model will call into question his integrity, his dedication to his career, and just how far he will go for the sake of his lust.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
10 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Richard Dooling
24 books48 followersAuthor Richard Dooling’s first novel, Critical Care, was made into a film directed by the great Sidney Lumet, starring James Spader and Helen Mirren. His second novel, White Man’s Grave, was a finalist for the 1994 National Book Award. His third novel, Brain Storm, and his fourth novel, Bet Your Life, were both New York Times Notable Books Of The Year.
In 2003-2004, Richard Dooling co-wrote and helped produce Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital for ABC. Under the pen name Eleanor Druse, a mystic and savant in residence at Kingdom Hospital, Richard Dooling also wrote The Journals of Eleanor Druse, a New York Times bestseller.
Richard Dooling was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. He attended college and law school at Saint Louis University and worked for a few years as a registered respiratory therapist in Omaha and St. Louis.
He practiced law at Bryan Cave LLP in St. Louis for four years.
Richard Dooling lives with his wife, Kristy, in Montana.
Subscribe to I Would Prefer Not To, a quarterly newsletter by Richard Dooling, with links to his recent published essays, news about upcoming books, and new Kindle Unlimited editions of his old books. Sign up at dooling.com or at https://newsletter.dooling.com
In 2003-2004, Richard Dooling co-wrote and helped produce Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital for ABC. Under the pen name Eleanor Druse, a mystic and savant in residence at Kingdom Hospital, Richard Dooling also wrote The Journals of Eleanor Druse, a New York Times bestseller.
Richard Dooling was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. He attended college and law school at Saint Louis University and worked for a few years as a registered respiratory therapist in Omaha and St. Louis.
He practiced law at Bryan Cave LLP in St. Louis for four years.
Richard Dooling lives with his wife, Kristy, in Montana.
Subscribe to I Would Prefer Not To, a quarterly newsletter by Richard Dooling, with links to his recent published essays, news about upcoming books, and new Kindle Unlimited editions of his old books. Sign up at dooling.com or at https://newsletter.dooling.com
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 7, 2020
A dark, somewhat realistic, somewhat satiric look at how the doctors and nurses react or relate to the comatose, hopeless patients in ICU, and the way that American medical practice encourages prolongation of life even when no realistic hope of recovery to a normal life is medically possible. It is always possible, apparently, to find many, many ways to subject such patients to an endless battery of tests and medical technology that keeps them "alive," or rather prevents them from dying, which often is what the patient dearly wants, but is denied by relatives who can't be convinced to let go, who keep seeing the possibility of recovery when no such possibility is likely, by the fears of the hospital of being sued for malpractice or inferior care if a patient dies, by the doctors who want to squeeze every cent of recompense from insurers, rather than work to help families see the truth that eventually medical treatment is useless. As a picture of the worst practices of American hospital care, it is both hilarious and unsettling.
As a novel, however, it really does not seem to get anywhere. The author sort of wrote himself into a corner, with the sisters battling over their inheritance, which all depends on when their father dies, as set forth in the will of their father's second wife, now deceased, but whose will determines attitudes toward the care of their dying father. The ending is unsatisfying to the point of being spurious.
I will remember the horrible drunken senior physician, with lost short-term memory. I will remember the cold, sarcastic attitude everyone in the ICU has toward each other, and toward the patients, whom they attend to meticulously, even though they know their care is essentially pointless.
As a novel, however, it really does not seem to get anywhere. The author sort of wrote himself into a corner, with the sisters battling over their inheritance, which all depends on when their father dies, as set forth in the will of their father's second wife, now deceased, but whose will determines attitudes toward the care of their dying father. The ending is unsatisfying to the point of being spurious.
I will remember the horrible drunken senior physician, with lost short-term memory. I will remember the cold, sarcastic attitude everyone in the ICU has toward each other, and toward the patients, whom they attend to meticulously, even though they know their care is essentially pointless.
May 4, 2022
Very funny while also a critical look at our health system.
December 4, 2023
Hospital dark humour
April 6, 2009
A compelling but often humorous look at the life of an Internal medicine resident at a major hospital. Dr. Peter Werner Ernst is supposedly to prevent those in his care from dying or at least he hopes he can accomplish that during his shift. His involvement with a relative of a patient brings into question is integrity and his ability to perform his job. Quite a spikingly humorous book!
From the back cover:
"Dr. Peter Werner Ernst is an Internal medicine resident at a major hospital's intensive care unit. He functions on eight hours of sleep for every three shifts at work. Overseeing the care of eight patients, Dr. Ernst's job is to keep death at bay - at least until the day shift comes on, and any potential death goes on someone else's record. When Felicia Potter enters the ward to visit her comatose father, Dr. Ernst sees the opportunity to spice up his grim routine with a little romance. What he cannot see is how his relationship with the young attractive model will call into question his integrity, his dedication to his career, and just how far he will go for the sake of his lust".
From the back cover:
"Dr. Peter Werner Ernst is an Internal medicine resident at a major hospital's intensive care unit. He functions on eight hours of sleep for every three shifts at work. Overseeing the care of eight patients, Dr. Ernst's job is to keep death at bay - at least until the day shift comes on, and any potential death goes on someone else's record. When Felicia Potter enters the ward to visit her comatose father, Dr. Ernst sees the opportunity to spice up his grim routine with a little romance. What he cannot see is how his relationship with the young attractive model will call into question his integrity, his dedication to his career, and just how far he will go for the sake of his lust".
April 19, 2012
The story is fairly simple on the surface, but more complex beneath. A young doctor is faced with a choice--he's fooled into having to make it, and his naivete regarding the issue is quite stunning. But, it's also endearing, and a big part of why this book is so engaging.
The dark humour had me laughing, despite mild horror, then, invariably, I'd turn the page and frown against the urge to weep. The ending was perfect.
This is a great first novel. The language is precise and easy to read, even though the book is peppered with medical terms. I enjoyed the way the author used words and constructed visual imagery. The writing, for me, elevated this book from ordinary to something I took the time to review.
The dark humour had me laughing, despite mild horror, then, invariably, I'd turn the page and frown against the urge to weep. The ending was perfect.
This is a great first novel. The language is precise and easy to read, even though the book is peppered with medical terms. I enjoyed the way the author used words and constructed visual imagery. The writing, for me, elevated this book from ordinary to something I took the time to review.
January 22, 2008
Read this right after his White Man's Grave. Shot through with a bleak kind of humor that I love. Have recommended it to a couple of doctors and they found it amusing too.
Currently reading
May 14, 2009Cute movie with Helen Mirren. Saw the book on sale for $1. That's about all I got to say 'bout that!!!
January 28, 2013
quick read...satire
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews