Informed Consent

by Sandra L. Glahn

Dr. Jeremy Cramer is a young doctor on the verge of a cutting-edge medical discovery. But his research is derailed when Cramer's son is infected with a rare fatal disease. Now as he races against time to save his child's life, Cramer will make a decision that could shatter his career.

Informed Consent is a pulse-pounding medical thriller that complements the current popularity of hospital dramas. With non-stop suspense, snappy dialogue, and witty humor, author Sandra Glahn takes a look at some of today's hot-button issues through this provocative story.

Genres: Fiction, Christian Fiction, Medical, Mystery, Christian, Suspense, Ebooks

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2007

About the author

Dr. Sandra Glahn is a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. She is the author or co-author of more than twenty books, including the Coffee Cup Bible Study series. Her forthcoming work, Nobody's Mother: Artemis of the Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testament, is slated for an October 2023 release.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost didn't accept this book to review as I had SO many to read, but the subject matter intrigued me. Now I'm glad I took this book on. I'll tell you why...Informed Consent is one of the most emotional, suspenseful, intelligent, and exhilarating stories I've read in a long time. The up-close look into marriage issues, grief and loss, and biomedical/ethical subject matter makes me rank this amazing novel as one of the best I've read this year. It is SO obvious that the author did a lot of research and she addressed the subject with insight and compassion. This story moved me to tears numerous times.

In some ways Informed Consent--which is a perfect title for the story--reminded me of a movie I watched starring Denzel Washington. In the movie he was stuck in an impossible situation and yet found a way to fix the problem. His solution was totally insane, but it sure made you think about the desperation people feel when they long to save a loved one, but face seemingly impossible barriers along the way. Informed consent tackled some really tough issues with finesse.

I'm reluctant to share much detail regarding this awesome novel because it's very suspenseful and I don't want the reader to miss out on the anxiety-provoking twists and turns by tipping them off to some of the dilemmas and solutions. But I will say that this story not only provokes intelligent thinking, but it makes you ponder spiritual issues as well. I am thoroughly impressed by the quality of the plot, the author's incredible "voice", and the pull this story had on me. I can't say enough good things about it, but I will say that from this point forward I intend to read EVERY book Sandra Glahn writes.

[♏ Gina☽ · Rating 5 out of 5]

How far would you go to save your child?

The main character in this book is one you will come to care very deeply about, along with most of the other characters. Dr. Jeremy Cramer is a gifted physician and researcher. He truly cares about people and wants to help in any way he can. An accident leads to Jeremy losing his father to drowning, and he narrowly survives the same accident.. In reading this book, Jeremy and the people around him seem to attract bad luck, which comes in waves.

This is what starts Jeremy on a course of determining why it is that children can survive being under water longer than adults as a sideline to his main job in infectious diseases.

As Jeremy finds sucess in research, not everyone is happy with what he is doing and finding. Jeremy faces backlash at every turn and bad luck haunts him.

Suddenly, Jeremy must make a decision that could cost him everything. How far will he go? This book takes a lot of twists and turns and I promise it will grab your attention and never let go.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeremy Cramer, M.D is researching why children survive hypothermic submersion better than adults when he makes a breakthrough discovery in AIDS research. This discovery thrusts him into a media frenzy and he becomes a political 'basketball' for the hospital administration. But all this is nothing when he accidentally infects a nurse with AIDS and his negligence allows his son to contact a life-threatening disease.

As if this were not enough his marriage is threatened because this is the second child of his to possibly die.

Jeremy must face some very real dilemmas and barriers. Medical, spiritual ethics and morals are brought into the story. To what lengths would you go to save your child and your marriage?

This is a fantastic story that captivated me from the very beginning. The ethical and medical issues were presented in a very well researched and thought-out manner. A must read!

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A medical researcher comes face to face with the unfathomable love required to sacrifice an only son.

Dr. Cramer's life hasn't been easy- Bad luck and loss continues to plague him while he works to make a breakthrough discovery in AIDS research.
His marriage is hanging by a thread and his son's life is in jeopardy. He blames himself and his negligence but should he be bearing that heavy burden?
He has to make some very difficult decisions that will ultimately be life-changing!
This novel is emotionally charged, thrilling, and captivating!
Another one you won't want to put down...

I read this in 3 days and thought it was excellent. Perhaps my favorite so far of the (3) Sandra Glahn medical fiction books I've read this year.

[Sarah]

I made it to 38% and realized that while the story was well written, I just wasn't interested. I was finding it rather depressing and while I am guessing some good stuff happens, there wasn't any promise of it.

Content notes: A LOT of medical detail, some references to married intimacy, some noticing of people in immodest clothing, a lot of realistic representation of grief, blame, anger, and fighting illness.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informed Consent really grabbed me. The writing was simple but the plot had many twists and turns I liked. It had almost too many issues for one book to tackle. But I enjoyed it. Would have given it 3 1/2 if I could have.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick-reading medical thriller that touches on so many hot-topic medical issues it bordered a bit on the unrealistic, but ended up being a really good book. Dr. Jeremy Cramer is a resident whose strong desire to be a research scientist comes from a boating accident where his father drowned, but he survived. Since then, he's hoped to find a biological explanation why children often survive drowning when adults do not. In the meantime, his life outside the lab is a mess and most of it appears to be his fault. His marriage is on the verge of breaking up due to his devotion to his work, which indirectly resulted in the death of one of their sons. His other son falls ill after a visit to the lab, and an accident infects one of Jeremy's colleagues with a virus. Plus, the director of the hospital where Jeremy works is a power-hungry leech of a man, who takes all the credit when Jeremy succeeds but makes it clear that the consequences of any failures will be Jeremy's to bear.
As a lab scientist myself, I found Jeremy's research to be interesting and relevant, but the story also confirms why I prefer clinical laboratory work rather than research driven work. It's a shame the book is fiction, because if Jeremy's discovery were real, it would change so much in medicine, including the field in which I work. At times, it felt like the book was going off on stray tangents, but Glahn does a good job of tying it all back in.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a medical thriller that seems to careen from one crisis to another, either personally or professionally. Dr. Jeremy Cramer is an infectious-disease researcher at a hospital in Denver who tends to blame himself for tragedies that happen to the people around him: his father died in a drowning accident when Jeremy was a child; his oldest son, Ravi, died in an automobile accident; his associate, Devin, contracted HIV when she was accidentally stuck by a contaminated needle; now his younger son, Jak, has developed a heart problem, and the only solution may be one that will end both Dr. Cramer's marriage and his career ...

I cannot recommend this highly enough!

[Doug Kauffman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I'm just not a huge fan of thrillers, but I had a hard time getting into this book. The fact that it was a "medical thriller" with (what seemed to me to be) unrealistic medical plot holes didn't help. I also think the author tried to cram too many issues into the novel: marriage problems (of two different couples), ethics of medical research, informed consent, end-of-life decisions, grief and guilt and forgiveness, reawakening faith, and probably more I'm forgetting about. I felt a little overwhelmed with all the plot twists and the busyness of the timeline. Maybe I just shouldn't try to read books labeled as thrillers.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal note first - in 2012 my husband read this book. I started it on 2017 on the same day in December that he had finished it only 5 years off.

My comments are similar to his.... not in a class with Michael Palmer but a good enough read I did not quit part way through. I did find it telegraphed so I knew long before the final chapters what was going to happen. Still it was enjoyable.

[Victor Muthoka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bravo! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽. A Story Worth Reading

I don’t even know how to do this review. The book left me clapping in encore 😏.

I’d you like medical thrillers not heavy on the jargon, an engaging emotional tug of your heart & an ending that makes you close the book w/ a warm, fuzzy feeling as you low key cheer the family on, definitely pick this one up.

Bravo to the author.

[Diana Hoekstra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like it, but it was too depressing for me. The story seemed to drag and then, out of nowhere, something crazy would happen. I felt like I had missed something. I ended up reading a chapter or two a day to finish it.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an amazing read. I hated to put it down. The twists and turns in the story will keep you guessing from beginning to end. Not sure if I've ever read one of this author's books before but I will look for more. I hope whomever reads this gives this book a read.

[Jacki Prettyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart stopping

A research doctor with a mission , a marriage slowly foundering while a child is dying, uncertainty in a higher power. Then comes a major discovery in the research lab, a new heart, both figuratively & literally, & a marriage & family that once again can flourish.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Layman’s Medical Triller

I am medically inept. I appreciate the author not using medical jargon to tell this story. She took steps to allowed a layperson understand the medical situation which leads to the medical dilemma.

The characters were well thought out. I had a hard time understanding why the main character would take his son to the lab which is why I gave the four star rating. All other characters and actions were believable to a point.

I appreciate the subject of the story. T*, medical research and transplants are things I don’t know much about. I believe I have a better understanding after reading this book. I like that this knowledge was passed on by historical fiction.

[Esperanza G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story

The story kept me engaged and interested. It had nice twists and turns through out the book ! Would definitely recommend.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this medical suspense novel..although it makes me leery of being admitted to the hospital 😬 Fast paced and interesting premise. Recommend.

[Deon]

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[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would you risk your entire medical career and freedom to save your child's life?

[Janejellyroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is enjoyable enough when you're reading it, but there's just too much happening that doesn't make sense. A doctor's flash of insight in the emergency room turns into human trials for a potential cure for AIDS in what seems like a few weeks. Meanwhile, he has not one, but TWO people in his life that he's infected with serious diseases through carelessness or neglect (he also was driving the car when his young son died prior to the events in the novel). We've got organ transplants taking place with apparently no oversights, testing, or controls. Another doctor is messing with IV bags because (???). It's just too far-fetched.

[Casandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is a book with a strong Christian theme, but only one family of characters attends church. It is a book about guilt and redemption, about lies and trust, and about mistakes and reparations.
The characters seemed well developed to me, especially the lead protagonist Jeremy and his friend and fellow doctor Nate Barlow, and Jeremy's friend and co-worker Devin. Even the ancillary characters were more than just flat caricatures, though the more removed from the main action of the story, the flatter they were (as usual for any story, I think).
The story was very compelling and kept my interest through the entire reading. I enjoyed the medical aspects of the book though I was really disgusted with the office politics in the hospital. I guess it really is everywhere. I especially connected to the part of the story involving Jeremy's son Jak, because I also suffer from cardiomyopathy. Thank God mine is not as severe as Jak's was!
One of the things I also appreciated about the book was the way issues were presented, but no neat little bow-tie solutions were offered. This is life - our problems don't go away in one day. Our hang-ups and frustrations are probably always going to be the places we struggle, and the places where we lack hubris and exercise poor judgment will always give us trouble. The lesson, I think, is in what we do about those things. Jeremy struggled with a huge burden of guilt, basically his whole life. He had to learn that sometimes things are not your fault; they just happen. Accidents happen. On occasion there are very very bad consequences, but that does not mean you should carry an abnormal burden of guilt because of them. His wife, Angie, was very, very angry all throughout the book, so much so that she justified her punishment of Jeremy for mistakes and accidents. Nate Barlow's wife Portia dealt with boredom and frustration by embarking on an affair instead of finding things to fill her time. A researcher in the lab caused a terrible tragedy in a misguided effort to strike back at someone who treated her shamefully. All of these people made mistakes, but because they were willing to learn from their mistakes and own up to the things that they did wrong, they do experience a forgiveness and renewal.
I will definitely be on the lookout for more books from this author. I strongly recommend this one. There's no profanity, no sex, and it presents many talking (or thinking) points regarding moral, religious, ethical, and upright living.

[Eustacia Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informed consent is basically agreeing to something (like surgery) after hearing about the risks. It's a huge deal, because of people called lawyers. But this book isn't so much about a lawsuit (yes it appears, but it's not center stage), it's about a doctor who's trying to decide what's the right thing to do.

Jeremy is a research/doctor who's in a crisis. Well, no one says it, but it's obvious. He accidentally tripped - and a nurse got HIV. He brought his son to the lab - and his son gets a heart disease. Oh, and his wife still blames him for the death of his other son a few years ago, and he's consumed by his work, which has the potential to cure HIV.

This sounds like a very confused plot, but the different elements were introduced gradually enough that I was not confused. And well, I left out some secondary plots, so you can imagine how tangled this story is. If you're picturing a Taiwanese soap opera, you're pretty close to how it is.

Which makes the length of the book feel suprisingly short. There are so many things going on, it's easy to expect this book to be a long drawn-out epic. Yet, it's possible to finish this book in one day (or a few, if you're distracted and juggling a few books at a time).

This is a Christian book, but I think you'll be surprised to know that Jeremy isn't a Christian. His wife is, but he's struggling with his faith. And there's no resolution. Sure, he's pointed towards God, but the book gets caught up with the plot and leaves it dangling (it's a bit strange too, considering that he spent some time ranting about the unfairness of God and such). Then again, it's possible that something was said and I missed it. Anyone have anything to add?

I found this an interesting book. If you like medical-related novels, you'll probably enjoy this.

This review was first posted to Inside the mind of a Bibliophile

[Tom Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is indeed a page turner. I sneaked time away from work, play, and sleep over and over again to read just a few more pages in order to see what happens next. However, sometimes I was almost AFRAID to turn to the next chapter and find out what additional misfortunes were about to befall the main character or those close to him. I am accustomed to and I enjoy medical thrillers by Michael Palmer or Robin Cook with one or more good guys fighting some known or unknown villain who has some evil plot to ruin the world and/or enrich the villain in some way. The standard medical thriller is just unrealistic enough to be exciting, intriguing, and interesting without really hitting home with any degree of realism. Informed Consent, on the other hand, is almost TOO realistic at times to be fun to read. Ms. Glahn really makes the reader care about the main characters, and then she hits them with enough bad luck to make you want to stop reading. However, you can't because you care so much and you have to find out how it all comes out. The misfortunes that befall our hero, his family, and his good friend, Devin, seem like they could actually happen, although hopefully not in the quantity and degree depicted in the book. Job from the Bible is the only protagonist I can think of who had more bad stuff happen to him. So, reader be warned! This book is very well-written and suspenseful with many twists and turns. However, it is not for the faint of heart or someone who is easily depressed.

Dr. Jeremy Cramer is a brilliant physician and researcher who really wants to make the world a better place. His father drowns when he is a child and he survives the same accident, and so he wants to determine why children survive periods underwater much better than adults. But, personal tragedies and hospital politics complicate things and the result is a complex and suspenseful story.

[Nora St Laurent · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING: After reading Informed Consent you will NEVER look at Doctors and nurses the same way. After all they are just humans like the rest of us right? I know there is office politics in whatever work environment but when I read about what goes on in the inner workings of this hospital it made me a little sick to my stomach.

When hospital personnel make mistakes on the job or don’t follow procedure and/or don’t get INFORMED consent from patients; they are put at risk and some die. Sandra definitely explores how some doctors try to get around Informed Consent and what that means to the patients.

How is the cure for aids going to be found? Sandra reveals one way; thru that of a person who is personally motivated by a tragedy to find a cure for what killed his father but not himself. Could finding the cure for his father’s death lead to a break thru the whole world is looking for? It could happen!

Parts of this book were medically wordy. Some parts are difficult to read because it dealt with children and possible medical mishaps that put them in harm’s way. Then there were other parts of the book that were fast paced, thrilling and emotionally suspenseful!! Buckle up when you read this book.

This would make a great book club pick. It’s a rich story with so much to discuss.

Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeremy is a rising doctor with very personal reasons for researching ways of prolonging life in drowning victims. His work leads him to surprising discoveries, while also confronting him with massive guilt over incidental infections that occur in his presence. Even as his marriage teeters, his career continues to skyrocket. Then, with a few twists along the way, he finds everything he has fought for threatened by the most personal, most heart-wrenching, choices of all.

Dr. Jeremy Cramer is a young doctor on the verge of a cutting-edge medical discovery. But his research is derailed when Cramer's son is infected with a rare fatal disease. Now as he races against time to save his child's life, Cramer will make a decision that could shatter his career.

Informed Consent is a pulse-pounding medical thriller that complements the current popularity of hospital dramas. With non-stop suspense, snappy dialogue, and witty humor, author Sandra Glahn takes a look at some of today's hot-button issues through this provocative story.

It says at Amazon that the author has Christian ties, but we don't really see much Christian theology coming from the family when his son gets sick. Only the nurse who has AIDS and knows where she's going when she dies.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel involves a researchers quest to find out why children can survive being submersed in water for time periods that would result in the death of an adult. His interest is personal, as he has been plagued with survivor's guilt for his entire adult life after his father drown in an accident which he survived. He uses grant funding for AIDS to do research that will help AIDS victims and offer him some ideas for his own personal goals. This is good so far but his insistence that he is guilty for almost everything that happens to the people in his life and the cloud of of bad luck that follows wherever he goes becomes too much to take! When his luck changes, the change is so unbelievable that if offers no relief to the reader.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book after reading the blurb during a sale in which it was free. I am really glad I did...the storyline reminded me of a Robin Cook novel and I have always loved his medical thrillers. While this book did not have the 'danger' element in it as strongly as the other medical based books I have read in the past it was all the same an edge of my seat ride from start to finish. As the book progressed I found myself hoping that the technology described in this book will become a reality in the future....so many people could benefit from it. I truly enjoyed this author's writing style and will be picking up more of her work in the future.

[Jaclynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeremy is on his way to making some life changing discoveries in infectious disease research when his world unravels. Suddenly a friend has contracted a deadly disease, and his marriage and his own son's life is threatened. How far will he go to save those he cares about? And will Jeremy ever forgive himself for all the mistakes (ie. accidents) he has made?
Fast paced, thrilling and full of difficult contemplative situations. At the same time this book contains the love and forgiveness of Christ, illustrated so poignantly by a (freak accident) victim of AIDS.

[Audrey Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was quite interesting to me! Lots of side factors going on that keep you guessing if you are catching on to all that you need to. Very cleverly written.
I hated that they never told what happened to Ravi....to me that was a very important part of the story. Why did both of them blame HIM so very much?!?! Was it in there and I somehow missed it? I watched for it, but never could figure it out. It bugged me that that trail was left cold and unfollowed.
Other than that if you like a good medical mystery with plenty of lab and techie stuff you will love this book!!

[Betti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is Fragile

What an incredible book! This well-written story grabs your attention immediately and doesn't let go until you reach the end. The author had me trying to decide if I liked Jeremy and what he was doing to those around him or if I disliked him for the hurts, etc. he was causing. The information about research was fascinating and made me hope and wish that the findings are true.
How much can one forgive? A question only you can answer for yourself. Don't miss this incredible book!