What do you think?
Rate this book
Who Says You're Dead? Medical & Ethical Dilemmas for the Curious & Concerned
Drawing upon the author’s two decades of teaching medical ethics at America’s top universities and medical schools and his work as a practicing psychiatrist, this innovative book asks readers, when faced with complex, unsettling scenarios readers, What would you do? Some cases are pulled from today’s headlines, others are loosely based on cases reported in professional journals. A few (identities disguised) come from the author’s own clinical encounters. Every scenario is followed by a brief reflection of how various modern thought leaders (ethicists, philosophers, courts, political commentators, research scientists, and medical professionals) have addressed the underlying issues.
329 pages, Hardcover
First published October 8, 2019
201 people are currently reading
6120 people want to read
About the author
Jacob M. Appel
36 books1,593 followers**Please note: A limited number of complimentary electronic copies of several of my books are available for review. Please email me directly if you are interested**
Jacob M. Appel's first novel, The Man Who Wouldn't Stand Up, won the Dundee International Book Award in 2012. His short story collection, Scouting for the Reaper, won the 2012 Hudson Prize. He has published short fiction in more than two hundred literary journals including Agni, Conjunctions, Gettysburg Review, Southwest Review, Virginia Quarterly Review, and West Branch. His work has been short listed for the O. Henry Award (2001), Best American Short Stories (2007, 2008), Best American Essays (2011, 2012), and received "special mention" for the Pushcart Prize in 2006, 2007, 2011 and 2013.
Jacob holds a B.A. and an M.A. from Brown University, an M.A. and an M.Phil. from Columbia University, an M.S. in bioethics from the Alden March Bioethics Institute of Albany Medical College, an M.D. from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, an M.F.A. in creative writing from New York University, an M.F.A. in playwriting from Queens College, an M.P.H. from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He currently practices psychiatry in New York City.
Jacob M. Appel's first novel, The Man Who Wouldn't Stand Up, won the Dundee International Book Award in 2012. His short story collection, Scouting for the Reaper, won the 2012 Hudson Prize. He has published short fiction in more than two hundred literary journals including Agni, Conjunctions, Gettysburg Review, Southwest Review, Virginia Quarterly Review, and West Branch. His work has been short listed for the O. Henry Award (2001), Best American Short Stories (2007, 2008), Best American Essays (2011, 2012), and received "special mention" for the Pushcart Prize in 2006, 2007, 2011 and 2013.
Jacob holds a B.A. and an M.A. from Brown University, an M.A. and an M.Phil. from Columbia University, an M.S. in bioethics from the Alden March Bioethics Institute of Albany Medical College, an M.D. from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, an M.F.A. in creative writing from New York University, an M.F.A. in playwriting from Queens College, an M.P.H. from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He currently practices psychiatry in New York City.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
April 21, 2020
This is a 10-star book. Each of the 100 or so dilemmas, all presented as cases, conclude with the author's thoughts and questions to consider. If you enjoy a book that will make you think deeply and examine differing points of view, then this book will not change your life, but give you the questions you need to answer to help it continue the way you want it to.
There were quite a few dilemmas associated with pregnancy and parents. There are men who seek to force women whom they make pregnant to abort or to let them legally give up all rights and responsibilities to the as-yet-unborn child. Some men want women to sign a paper before or just after sex (presumably) absolving the men of all responsibility should she become pregnant. Neither the government nor any person should have any jurisdiction over a woman's body and her absolute autonomy over it.
Besides, it's not a paper the man needs, it's rubber. If you don't want a baby, then make sure you can't make one. Get a vasectomy. If you are willing to take a very small chance and will take responsibility for accidents, then use condoms. If you aren't willing to do either, then stay home and play with yourself.
This book is very thought-provoking. My mind returns to it thoughout the day considering the dilemmas, seeing how all the participents have different points of view, and all of them valid, but only some of them having resonance with my own pragmatic point of view which jibes very well with the author's utilitarian philosophy. What would I do? This book is so worth a read.
___________________
Notes on Reading - 3 dilemmas
1. If a mother's mitrochondrial dna is problematic and replaced by donor dna in an egg then fertilized with the father's sperm, should the resultant child have a) two mothers on the birth certificate, b) should the dna donor be entitled to visitation rights if she should want them, and c) should the child know s/he has a second mother and her medical history (and possibly her family)?
2. If a man needs a kidney transplant and his daughter who is in her late 40s offers hers and the matching procedure shows that she is not even related to her father, should she a) be told her deceased mother must have had an affair as she is not her father's daughter and consequently might need to know her medical history as she knows it, is wrong, b) if she is a match still, should she be told? Might she then decide she isn't going to give a kidney to someone who is not a blood relative?
3. Medical records in any hospital are projected to be available to any other hospital or medical professional. Should this be so? (Can we stop it?) Imagine a pharmacist investigating his daughter's fiance and discovering he was a drug addict? Might you want your podiatrist, a possible family friend, to know of your previous mental health issues?
There were quite a few dilemmas associated with pregnancy and parents. There are men who seek to force women whom they make pregnant to abort or to let them legally give up all rights and responsibilities to the as-yet-unborn child. Some men want women to sign a paper before or just after sex (presumably) absolving the men of all responsibility should she become pregnant. Neither the government nor any person should have any jurisdiction over a woman's body and her absolute autonomy over it.
Besides, it's not a paper the man needs, it's rubber. If you don't want a baby, then make sure you can't make one. Get a vasectomy. If you are willing to take a very small chance and will take responsibility for accidents, then use condoms. If you aren't willing to do either, then stay home and play with yourself.
This book is very thought-provoking. My mind returns to it thoughout the day considering the dilemmas, seeing how all the participents have different points of view, and all of them valid, but only some of them having resonance with my own pragmatic point of view which jibes very well with the author's utilitarian philosophy. What would I do? This book is so worth a read.
___________________
Notes on Reading - 3 dilemmas
1. If a mother's mitrochondrial dna is problematic and replaced by donor dna in an egg then fertilized with the father's sperm, should the resultant child have a) two mothers on the birth certificate, b) should the dna donor be entitled to visitation rights if she should want them, and c) should the child know s/he has a second mother and her medical history (and possibly her family)?
2. If a man needs a kidney transplant and his daughter who is in her late 40s offers hers and the matching procedure shows that she is not even related to her father, should she a) be told her deceased mother must have had an affair as she is not her father's daughter and consequently might need to know her medical history as she knows it, is wrong, b) if she is a match still, should she be told? Might she then decide she isn't going to give a kidney to someone who is not a blood relative?
3. Medical records in any hospital are projected to be available to any other hospital or medical professional. Should this be so? (Can we stop it?) Imagine a pharmacist investigating his daughter's fiance and discovering he was a drug addict? Might you want your podiatrist, a possible family friend, to know of your previous mental health issues?
December 27, 2019
Back in the mid-eighties, I was working at B. Dalton Bookseller when The Book of Questions came on the scene. It was a small book consisting of open-ended questions that required much thought and introspection, like "If you learned you were going to die in a few days, what regrets would you have?", “If you had to tattoo your arm with a message to yourself, what would you write?”, and my favorite - "You discover your wonderful one-year-old child is, because of a mix-up at the hospital, not yours. Would you want to exchange the child to try to correct the mistake?" My fellow employees and I had a blast attempting to "answer" the puzzlers posed by the author.
Now, decades later, Jacob M. Appel, who holds a degree in Bioethics (along with degrees in umpteen other fields, and is probably a certified Bikram yoga instructor, and undoubtedly this season's Masked Singer), takes this idea, and applies it to the medical ethics bailiwick. These are questions with no easy answers, and indeed, though precedent is cited, no answers are provided. Appel's questions will challenge you, and give your grey matter a good workout. They could be great dinner table conversation, OR cause more mealtime chaos than the mention of the words Trump and impeachment.
All sorts of hot button issues are covered by the author, including head-scratchers about reproductive rights, genetic testing, organ donation, and end of life care.
Some of my favorites? What should be done about conjoined twins when only one of them wants to have the separation surgery? Is it ethical for doctors to forcibly take blood from a mentally challenged man if that's all that is needed to save his brother's life? Who should raise the child when the prospective parents are murdered - a grieving, would-be grandmother, or the paid surrogate?
Oy vey! I was glad I wasn't the one who had to make the final decisions.
PS - The author obviously had a great deal of fun taking liberties with the doctor's names. Be on the lookout for monikers you may recognize from TV and literature. (It's almost as much fun as finding Waldo!)
Now, decades later, Jacob M. Appel, who holds a degree in Bioethics (along with degrees in umpteen other fields, and is probably a certified Bikram yoga instructor, and undoubtedly this season's Masked Singer), takes this idea, and applies it to the medical ethics bailiwick. These are questions with no easy answers, and indeed, though precedent is cited, no answers are provided. Appel's questions will challenge you, and give your grey matter a good workout. They could be great dinner table conversation, OR cause more mealtime chaos than the mention of the words Trump and impeachment.
All sorts of hot button issues are covered by the author, including head-scratchers about reproductive rights, genetic testing, organ donation, and end of life care.
Some of my favorites? What should be done about conjoined twins when only one of them wants to have the separation surgery? Is it ethical for doctors to forcibly take blood from a mentally challenged man if that's all that is needed to save his brother's life? Who should raise the child when the prospective parents are murdered - a grieving, would-be grandmother, or the paid surrogate?
Oy vey! I was glad I wasn't the one who had to make the final decisions.
PS - The author obviously had a great deal of fun taking liberties with the doctor's names. Be on the lookout for monikers you may recognize from TV and literature. (It's almost as much fun as finding Waldo!)
May 24, 2020
Many thanks to Algonquin Books for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
Who Say Your Dead was a very interesting book, though reading it back to back with another very similar science book, I did start to get a little bored.
As technology evolves and changes, so do the 'rules' of science. For instance, in the 1800s, a person was considered dead when they're heart stopped beating. Now, we have life support. Once someone's heart stops beating, they can be put on a ventilator that breathes for them. Are they dead? If not, what has to happen for them to be dead.
This book covers questions like there and more. It was very fascinating. I actually ended up listening to the scenario, pausing and coming up with my own answer, and then continuing to here the author's answer.
That said, about 75% into the book, the questions started to feel repetitive. I feel like this is definitely not a book to be read in one sitting (which is what I did). This is a book you would take on vacation and pick up once or twice a day, reading a chapter or two.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and the way it made me think and question things but I did get bored towards the end. I still recommend it though!
--------------
Super fascinating but kind of repetitive at times. Review to come
| Goodreads | Blog | Pinterest | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram
December 17, 2020
This book allows you to play armchair judge/jury and doctor all rolled into one.
Filled to the brim with ethical and sometimes legal conundrums, with some cases providing a conclusive answer and others leaving the question for the reader to decide.
Its very clear that the law does not evolve in pace with technology as a lot of these cases are for medical interventions that the legal system does not have a framework for yet.
There are almost too many interesting scenarios to mention but here are a few to ponder yourself.
***
If you know a presidential candidate has a psychological disorder, someone who may have his hands on nuclear codes one day, should you breach doctor patient confidentiality and make this public knowledge?
***
Should a prisoner on death row receive a lifesaving heart transplant? An action that will effectively kill another law-abiding citizen who could have received this heart.
***
Is a doctor allowed to hide behind religious or moral beliefs as a reason to not treat a patient?
***
Are designer babies that are effectively used as “spare parts” for sick siblings morally sound? How about the case of a deaf couple that wanted to guarantee that their new baby also gets born deaf to ensure that the parents can preserve their deaf “culture and lifestyle”.
These cases are never just black and white, so this made for fascinating reading.
Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in medical cases as well as medical and law students.
Filled to the brim with ethical and sometimes legal conundrums, with some cases providing a conclusive answer and others leaving the question for the reader to decide.
Its very clear that the law does not evolve in pace with technology as a lot of these cases are for medical interventions that the legal system does not have a framework for yet.
There are almost too many interesting scenarios to mention but here are a few to ponder yourself.
***
If you know a presidential candidate has a psychological disorder, someone who may have his hands on nuclear codes one day, should you breach doctor patient confidentiality and make this public knowledge?
***
Should a prisoner on death row receive a lifesaving heart transplant? An action that will effectively kill another law-abiding citizen who could have received this heart.
***
Is a doctor allowed to hide behind religious or moral beliefs as a reason to not treat a patient?
***
Are designer babies that are effectively used as “spare parts” for sick siblings morally sound? How about the case of a deaf couple that wanted to guarantee that their new baby also gets born deaf to ensure that the parents can preserve their deaf “culture and lifestyle”.
These cases are never just black and white, so this made for fascinating reading.
Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in medical cases as well as medical and law students.
October 20, 2019
Jacob Appel has given us another unique book this time looking at mostly medical cases as they might, or are viewed ethically. While the book is nonfiction, the patients' privacy has been protected by name and details changed.
As mentioned in the book's summary, and most appropriate, it's similar to a, "What would you do?" if you were the decision maker on each case. While the details are given, Jacob presents a few thought-provoking questions just to spur us on.
The best feature, in my opinion, is that there are no answers provided in the book; we're left with our best guess. An educated guess maybe?!. Some I had strong emotions about, especially cases involving children or the elderly. Some, I was baffled and confused; actually pleased that I was not involved in the final judgement call.
This is a fascinating and interesting book, and really opens our eyes to what doctors, lawyers, and families must deal with routinely. Bless them.
Thanks you Netgalley, Algonquin Press, and the intelligent and over-educated, Mr. Appel. (I say that with love and honor; and jest.)
September 28, 2019
3.5 stars
I wasn't sure if I should pick up this book, but when I saw that the author is not only a practicing psychiatrist but also a bioethicist and attorney, I couldn't resist.
Appel looks at 79 dilemmas, some rare (can a millionaire advertise for a new liver?) to situations many of us will face (decisions regarding end of life care). Each case is introduced in a succinct vignette and followed up with a reflection covering legal, ethical, and personal issues that may affect the decision made. It truly is a reflection - Appel doesn't rule for one side or the other, and he's sure to mention factors that could make a seemingly off-putting choice rational. The setup gives you a moment to sit and reflect on what you would do in that situation. If a patient revealed that he's gotten away with murder, would you report it to the police? Would you give someone on death row a liver transplant? What do you do when the sisters of a dying patient disagree about treatment?
The situations themselves are crafted with care. Some are edge cases pushing beyond settled law, some straddle an ethical line, and others show the most sympathetic patient for a particular treatment or intervention. While the vignettes are fictional (doctors Scarpetta, Hawkeye, and Jekyll make appearances) they're based on actual people and cases, mostly in the US and UK. If you'd like more info there's a robust appendix pointing to related papers, articles, and books for each dilemma.
With the heavy and at times disturbing medical content it's not a book I can recommend to everyone, but I found it fascinating. It helped clarify (or occasionally muddy) my thinking about these ethical issues, and pointed me towards some that I didn't even know existed. Did you know that with gene editing technology it may be possible to use ancient DNA to bring a Neanderthal to term in a human woman? It's creepy and seems like an absolute no-go, and while Appel leans heavily in that direction he does imagine a semi-apocalyptic scenario where it might make sense.
I had small quibbles with two scenarios. One struck me as slightly ableist and used small d deaf to refer to capital D Deaf culture and people. The other talked about wrongful birth, where a doctor is negligent tying tubes and the woman becomes pregnant and ends up giving birth to a child, her fifth. Juries find it difficult to award damages for having a healthy baby, wanted or not, but the discussion didn't touch on ways that settlement money could help the family meet the unexpected expenses of raising another child, not to mention psychological impacts. The other scenarios offer nuanced thoughts so this one felt out of place.
Those are only two small concerns, though - overall I found Who Says You're Dead? fascinating and engrossing. I put it down now and then to take a breath - who wouldn't after delving into the ethics of full-body transplants? - but it's a compulsive read for medical nonfiction fans and armchair ethicists.
Thanks to Algonquin Books and Edelweiss for providing a review copy.
I wasn't sure if I should pick up this book, but when I saw that the author is not only a practicing psychiatrist but also a bioethicist and attorney, I couldn't resist.
Appel looks at 79 dilemmas, some rare (can a millionaire advertise for a new liver?) to situations many of us will face (decisions regarding end of life care). Each case is introduced in a succinct vignette and followed up with a reflection covering legal, ethical, and personal issues that may affect the decision made. It truly is a reflection - Appel doesn't rule for one side or the other, and he's sure to mention factors that could make a seemingly off-putting choice rational. The setup gives you a moment to sit and reflect on what you would do in that situation. If a patient revealed that he's gotten away with murder, would you report it to the police? Would you give someone on death row a liver transplant? What do you do when the sisters of a dying patient disagree about treatment?
The situations themselves are crafted with care. Some are edge cases pushing beyond settled law, some straddle an ethical line, and others show the most sympathetic patient for a particular treatment or intervention. While the vignettes are fictional (doctors Scarpetta, Hawkeye, and Jekyll make appearances) they're based on actual people and cases, mostly in the US and UK. If you'd like more info there's a robust appendix pointing to related papers, articles, and books for each dilemma.
With the heavy and at times disturbing medical content it's not a book I can recommend to everyone, but I found it fascinating. It helped clarify (or occasionally muddy) my thinking about these ethical issues, and pointed me towards some that I didn't even know existed. Did you know that with gene editing technology it may be possible to use ancient DNA to bring a Neanderthal to term in a human woman? It's creepy and seems like an absolute no-go, and while Appel leans heavily in that direction he does imagine a semi-apocalyptic scenario where it might make sense.
I had small quibbles with two scenarios. One struck me as slightly ableist and used small d deaf to refer to capital D Deaf culture and people. The other talked about wrongful birth, where a doctor is negligent tying tubes and the woman becomes pregnant and ends up giving birth to a child, her fifth. Juries find it difficult to award damages for having a healthy baby, wanted or not, but the discussion didn't touch on ways that settlement money could help the family meet the unexpected expenses of raising another child, not to mention psychological impacts. The other scenarios offer nuanced thoughts so this one felt out of place.
Those are only two small concerns, though - overall I found Who Says You're Dead? fascinating and engrossing. I put it down now and then to take a breath - who wouldn't after delving into the ethics of full-body transplants? - but it's a compulsive read for medical nonfiction fans and armchair ethicists.
Thanks to Algonquin Books and Edelweiss for providing a review copy.
August 3, 2019
The author is a psychiatrist and bioethicist and he does a great job of sharing thought-provoking ethical dilemmas in the health profession. Each brief chapter describes a scenario and ends with a medical conundrum. Each section features a commentary/reflection from serious (birth defects, eugenics, DNA testing etc.) to relatively mundane interactions (patient-doctor conduct, patient prejudice, business cost etc). There is no conlusion to be made, in fact, the author serves up these musings for the readers’ “intellectual pleasure,” and it is a veritable smorgasbord.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
July 14, 2019
I won this book for GoodReads
This book poses a number of ethical issues that arise in real life medicine. Many of these issues are presented from extremes, which the author acknowledges. As a physician, I can confirm that these issues do indeed arise frequently, however, usually much more in the gray area.
The author does not provide answers, but provides context from which the issue can be approached by different people. Although some will take a firm stance on one side or the other of these ethical dilemas, I think most will recognize the conflicting principles to be addressed with each issue.
I think this is a good book for anyone in the field of medicine, or with an interest in ethics.
This book poses a number of ethical issues that arise in real life medicine. Many of these issues are presented from extremes, which the author acknowledges. As a physician, I can confirm that these issues do indeed arise frequently, however, usually much more in the gray area.
The author does not provide answers, but provides context from which the issue can be approached by different people. Although some will take a firm stance on one side or the other of these ethical dilemas, I think most will recognize the conflicting principles to be addressed with each issue.
I think this is a good book for anyone in the field of medicine, or with an interest in ethics.
July 7, 2019
What an insightful and eye-opening book about ethical dilemmas the medical profession faces in this ever changing society. There are six parts in this book with different scenarios under each part and the ethical issues that comes with it. For example, is it ethical for a doctor to reveal to the father or his daughter that they are not biological related when genetic markers during an organ match test reveals that they are not? Is it ethical for prisoners on death row who need organ transplant to "jump the line" in the waiting list? Is xenotransplantation ethical when it involves a five month-old girl with a severe congenital heart defect? Ah, you get what I mean? These are interesting ethical issues. This book is thought-provoking, intriguing and shocking and should not be read in one sitting. It is replete with information and should be devoured slowly!
***I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from Algonquin Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed in this review are my own and was not influenced by the author, publisher or any third party.***
***I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from Algonquin Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed in this review are my own and was not influenced by the author, publisher or any third party.***
August 29, 2023
Audiobook Review
I bought this as the blurb caught my attention and my curiosity.
This book is told by giving you an ethical dilemma and a made up story about this issue, then an explanation of why this should or shouldn't be done and a real story with that ethical issue happening. I know this sounds dry and boring but it really wasn't. My only complaint was that I wish more details would have been added to the true life story parts, as it seemed that the writer really wanted to add as many items as possible before the book ended.
There were some issues I would have had a hard time following the "correct" way of resolving them and I disagree with the writers opinion that not everyone deserves health care. Every human deserves to be able to be treated, rich or not. Also, I wonder if the pandemic changed his opinion on how and why all the governments handled it. It really sounded as if he thought that they couldn't and wouldn't close everything down for the greater good.
The narration was top notch and I really enjoyed this one.
I bought this as the blurb caught my attention and my curiosity.
This book is told by giving you an ethical dilemma and a made up story about this issue, then an explanation of why this should or shouldn't be done and a real story with that ethical issue happening. I know this sounds dry and boring but it really wasn't. My only complaint was that I wish more details would have been added to the true life story parts, as it seemed that the writer really wanted to add as many items as possible before the book ended.
There were some issues I would have had a hard time following the "correct" way of resolving them and I disagree with the writers opinion that not everyone deserves health care. Every human deserves to be able to be treated, rich or not. Also, I wonder if the pandemic changed his opinion on how and why all the governments handled it. It really sounded as if he thought that they couldn't and wouldn't close everything down for the greater good.
The narration was top notch and I really enjoyed this one.
September 8, 2019
While I do not usually pick up nonfiction books, the title of this book intrigued me too much to ignore looking further into its content. I know the bare minimum about the medical sciences (enough to get me by at the doctor’s office), but I was amazed by how comprehensive the author made each topic and case study. In my own library-minded opinion, this was an easy-to-read and thoroughly researched piece of nonfiction.
One of my favorite moments was learning about the “yuck factor,” which is when something is morally wrong yet difficult to explain why.
There are many interesting tidbits and historical facts to read and learn in this work and I think the author did an excellent job of reiterating many points into a layman’s understanding of the medical field and its ethical concerns.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
One of my favorite moments was learning about the “yuck factor,” which is when something is morally wrong yet difficult to explain why.
There are many interesting tidbits and historical facts to read and learn in this work and I think the author did an excellent job of reiterating many points into a layman’s understanding of the medical field and its ethical concerns.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2020
Medical ethics and the law:
Jacob M. Appel, MD sets out several medical scenarios ending with a question for the reader to ponder by which time you could possibly have already made a decision based on the bare facts presented.
What follows is his ‘Reflections’ explaining the medical/ethical questions the particular scenario presents, the pros & cons, and the law.
Some of these scenarios I had never thought about and some I had never even imagined possible such as the girl who wanted a large fiberglass horn surgically implanted into her skull!
The chapter dealing with “ventilator allocation” is especially apt at this particular time.
The author has a sense of humour as he shows with the use of names such as: Dr. No; Dr. Kildare; Dr. Scarpetta and many more the reader will likely recognize.
This is thought provoking reading and I loved every page. As heavy as the subject matter may be it’s easy reading.
Jacob M. Appel, MD sets out several medical scenarios ending with a question for the reader to ponder by which time you could possibly have already made a decision based on the bare facts presented.
What follows is his ‘Reflections’ explaining the medical/ethical questions the particular scenario presents, the pros & cons, and the law.
Some of these scenarios I had never thought about and some I had never even imagined possible such as the girl who wanted a large fiberglass horn surgically implanted into her skull!
The chapter dealing with “ventilator allocation” is especially apt at this particular time.
The author has a sense of humour as he shows with the use of names such as: Dr. No; Dr. Kildare; Dr. Scarpetta and many more the reader will likely recognize.
This is thought provoking reading and I loved every page. As heavy as the subject matter may be it’s easy reading.
November 20, 2020
Oh my God I loved this! Absolutely fascinating look at ~controversial~ medical and ethical dilemmas that made me think. 10/10 would recommend, and already have recommended it to multiple classmates and teachers.
March 17, 2025
The first book ever that I've had to read for school and actually enjoyed haha! I think medical ethics are super interesting, and there were lots of ethical scenarios in this book that really made me think.
July 25, 2020
I love books that cause me to have an existential crisis, and this was definitely one of those books—it has been the cause of several interesting dinner table discussions, much to my family’s chagrin. I took a chance on this book because I’m one of the most squeamish people you’ll ever meet, so I really appreciate that it wasn’t too nitty gritty with medical details and remained largely focused on ethics! This will remain a favorite.
July 29, 2021
I really liked this book! Very thought-provoking. There are around 80 medical or psychological not so clear situations present with a "what would you do?" question at the end. Then there are thoughts on what could happen based on laws or ethics. Each situation is only a few pages and is good for discussion. It got me thinking, in some cases, if there's something I should be doing now to make my wishes known. Would highly recommend.
October 2, 2019
This is a medical book for the masses, both informative and entertaining. The doctor/author is a bioethics professor, so he knows the topic very well. He presents all the information in an easy-to-follow, straightforward style. Each chapter covers a different ethical area, then subdivided into specific, brief cases with possible responses. There are no definitive answers, but rather many different opinions are offered. An extensive bibliography is also included. The author humorously uses well-known fictional names for some of the professionals, including Dr. Kildare and Dr. Zhivago. Excellent read! Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC.
January 27, 2020
This was a truly interesting read.
I was more the 'curious' than the 'concerned' from the book title. Each chapter would give you an ethical dilemma from either doctors, surgeons or psychologists/psychiatrists then it would move onto the 'reflection', how they should tackle said dilemmas, usually the dilemmas were made up but it would then relate to a similar real-life case in the 'reflections' section.
I would say I learnt quite a lot but it also made me look at doctors/mental health professions in a different way. Some of the situations they have to go through, trying to decide what's right and wrong, what will help in the long term as well as trying to do the best in the short term, having to deal with very difficult patients, how certain dilemmas could in fact play on the mind of a doctor for years afterwards if they did the wrong thing. It's crazy what goes on in the medical world, it really made me open my eyes to what goes on behind the screens.
If you're interested in this sort of thing, I'd 100% recommend it, it's not difficult to follow (I was worried there would be a lot of medical jargon that would go way over my head but that was not the case, and that's coming from someone with zero medical background) and it's definitely educational, and even better? Makes for amazing discussions, I've brought up some dilemmas to friends and we've gone into great lengths discussing it, it's nice to hear other people engaging in such topics (beware, some of these can turn into heated debates as they cover some controversial topics).
x
I was more the 'curious' than the 'concerned' from the book title. Each chapter would give you an ethical dilemma from either doctors, surgeons or psychologists/psychiatrists then it would move onto the 'reflection', how they should tackle said dilemmas, usually the dilemmas were made up but it would then relate to a similar real-life case in the 'reflections' section.
I would say I learnt quite a lot but it also made me look at doctors/mental health professions in a different way. Some of the situations they have to go through, trying to decide what's right and wrong, what will help in the long term as well as trying to do the best in the short term, having to deal with very difficult patients, how certain dilemmas could in fact play on the mind of a doctor for years afterwards if they did the wrong thing. It's crazy what goes on in the medical world, it really made me open my eyes to what goes on behind the screens.
If you're interested in this sort of thing, I'd 100% recommend it, it's not difficult to follow (I was worried there would be a lot of medical jargon that would go way over my head but that was not the case, and that's coming from someone with zero medical background) and it's definitely educational, and even better? Makes for amazing discussions, I've brought up some dilemmas to friends and we've gone into great lengths discussing it, it's nice to hear other people engaging in such topics (beware, some of these can turn into heated debates as they cover some controversial topics).
x
September 15, 2019
I started this book because I was just looking for something different that was in the house. It sounded interesting and so I started. It is made up of short medical delemmas and interesting questions of the ethics involved. What to do? What do you think? Both compelling thoughts that keep you going. There are 79 of them that are used in this book and I liked them, pretty much, all.
I say that it is a good book to start and see what you think. You can always skip a dilemma if it is not your cup of tea but it is also easy to read it all.
I say that it is a good book to start and see what you think. You can always skip a dilemma if it is not your cup of tea but it is also easy to read it all.
May 17, 2020
Who Says You’re Dead (2019) by Jacob M. Appel, MD. Wikipedia lists Mr. Jacob M. Appel as (1) an author, (2) poet, (3) bioethicist, (4) physician, (5) lawyer and finally (6) social critic. To say he is a Renaissance man is perhaps to not give him enough credit. That he is a prolific writer of both books and plays, with some poetry thrown in, goes without doubt. But it is with this book that he shines a light on his medical and law degrees, as well as his work as a bioethicist.
I received this book through the LibraryThing program in August of 2019. I read some of the items, was amazed, but other things in life came up and I not only set it aside, but I lost it in the shuffle of my life. If you saw my book shelves, in all the different rooms and floors of my house, you might understand.
Anyway, today, May 17th (our 40th wedding anniversary) I pulled it out and finished it. I don’t know why I set it aside to begin with as I really liked it. But there was something very… disturbing?… unnerving?,,, eerie perhaps? The first page I opened it to was Chapter 60, entitled “When Doctors Choose Who Lives.” It begins, and I quote, “A state is developing a contingency plan for how to allocate ventilators… in case of a severe flu pandemic…”
Wow, talk about foresight. Of course I raced through reading the arguments and, as with most of the medical dilemma questions posed, I was not happy with the result. But I had to agree with it due to common sense factors. Not that many people are demonstrating a high degree of that crucial sense today.
There are 79 medical ethics posers presented herein ranging from False Paternity, Informed Consent and Privacy issues, though body alterations, both voluntary and not, becoming parents in new and creative ways and ending with, naturally, End Of Life issues. Throughout this tour of the gamut of ethics questions medical personnel face, Dr. Appel applies a sane and moralistic review suppling a sound basis for making decisions, decisions sure to make someone very unhappy. But he gives no straight out answers to the questions, and I would not expect him to do so.
In short, this is an insightful look into the ever changing world of medicine and the impact that modern technology has on our life choices. This book I highly recommend to medical and non-professional persons alike.
I received this book through the LibraryThing program in August of 2019. I read some of the items, was amazed, but other things in life came up and I not only set it aside, but I lost it in the shuffle of my life. If you saw my book shelves, in all the different rooms and floors of my house, you might understand.
Anyway, today, May 17th (our 40th wedding anniversary) I pulled it out and finished it. I don’t know why I set it aside to begin with as I really liked it. But there was something very… disturbing?… unnerving?,,, eerie perhaps? The first page I opened it to was Chapter 60, entitled “When Doctors Choose Who Lives.” It begins, and I quote, “A state is developing a contingency plan for how to allocate ventilators… in case of a severe flu pandemic…”
Wow, talk about foresight. Of course I raced through reading the arguments and, as with most of the medical dilemma questions posed, I was not happy with the result. But I had to agree with it due to common sense factors. Not that many people are demonstrating a high degree of that crucial sense today.
There are 79 medical ethics posers presented herein ranging from False Paternity, Informed Consent and Privacy issues, though body alterations, both voluntary and not, becoming parents in new and creative ways and ending with, naturally, End Of Life issues. Throughout this tour of the gamut of ethics questions medical personnel face, Dr. Appel applies a sane and moralistic review suppling a sound basis for making decisions, decisions sure to make someone very unhappy. But he gives no straight out answers to the questions, and I would not expect him to do so.
In short, this is an insightful look into the ever changing world of medicine and the impact that modern technology has on our life choices. This book I highly recommend to medical and non-professional persons alike.
December 12, 2019
A collection of scenarios in which a medical and ethical dilemma is presented then discussed. In each chapter the author presents a fictional scenario first, then discusses the scenario in terms of bio-ethical standards and options. Most of the scenarios (if not all) are based on true cases both from the past and present. The decision on how you would move forward is never actually addressed...as these scenarios do not currently have a commonly accepted outcome. You're left to make up your own decision.
I can see this book being invaluable to those seeking a degree in law (mainly anything having to do with the medical field) or a degree in some medical field. It would be a fantastic book for book clubs as well, as it would very much lead to interesting discussions based on personal beliefs.
I'd like to thank the author for providing a copy of this book free of charge.
I can see this book being invaluable to those seeking a degree in law (mainly anything having to do with the medical field) or a degree in some medical field. It would be a fantastic book for book clubs as well, as it would very much lead to interesting discussions based on personal beliefs.
I'd like to thank the author for providing a copy of this book free of charge.
December 8, 2019
I didn't know what to expect reading this but I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was very thought-provoking and there were many times I read out chapters to my partner, just curious to hear his own reaction and thoughts. There was really only a few scenarios that I felt pretty strong morally against, M. Appel made a really compelling case, that even when feeling a righteous indignant 'no that is wrong!' he somehow made me see it from another perspective that had me thinking 'well...maybe this is A LOT more complex than I thought!"
I also really enjoyed the chapters with each their own dilemmas kept quite short, as they were perfect when taking the train to get these 'bite-size' little debates with myself before and after work.
I also really enjoyed the chapters with each their own dilemmas kept quite short, as they were perfect when taking the train to get these 'bite-size' little debates with myself before and after work.
December 13, 2019
I ate this book up over two days’ lunch hours. Each chapter is crunchy and tasty, like popcorn. Then there are lingering questions that you can wiggle out of your teeth during the rest of your shift.
April 12, 2020
A delightful series of bite-sized stories and reflections of the labyrinth that is modern medical ethics. Great reading for anyone concerned about morality, medicine, or both.
December 10, 2020
I don't know how this book ever made it on to my TBR list (I probably chuckled at the title without looking at the subtitle too closely), but I strangely don't regret it. I wouldn't think a book about medical ethics would be overly interesting, but Appel did a great job of making me think otherwise.
79 ethical issues were discussed (one per chapter), clearly with a lay audience in mind. Appel presented an ethically questionable real life example, explained various perspectives, and discussed precedents. He did not always reveal how each situation resolved in real life though, which was a little annoying. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the order of the chapters (they weren't grouped by topic), which did a decent job of keeping any one topic from becoming too heavy.
Somehow Appel kept a slightly humorous tone through the book, without being disrespectful to the severity of each situation. One notable way he did so was by naming the doctors in each scenario after famous doctors from popular culture, including: Dr. Banner, Dr. Aerosmith, Dr. Zhivago, and Dr. McCoy. He very much sounded like the university professor whose class you liked to take for an easy A, but had a good time in while sitting through it.
79 ethical issues were discussed (one per chapter), clearly with a lay audience in mind. Appel presented an ethically questionable real life example, explained various perspectives, and discussed precedents. He did not always reveal how each situation resolved in real life though, which was a little annoying. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the order of the chapters (they weren't grouped by topic), which did a decent job of keeping any one topic from becoming too heavy.
Somehow Appel kept a slightly humorous tone through the book, without being disrespectful to the severity of each situation. One notable way he did so was by naming the doctors in each scenario after famous doctors from popular culture, including: Dr. Banner, Dr. Aerosmith, Dr. Zhivago, and Dr. McCoy. He very much sounded like the university professor whose class you liked to take for an easy A, but had a good time in while sitting through it.
December 5, 2019
Interesting, engaging and thought provoking.
May 22, 2021
Oh, how exhausting.
I was pulled in by the interesting title but left disappointed. Some of the dilemmas were quite thought provoking, however I found the discussions to be lacking and, frankly, tiring. Taking a shot every time TAXPAYERS are mentioned would likely lead to dangerous levels of intoxication. Below is my rant on the most infuriating example.
Look baby, I know doctors have to make decisions based on the reality we are in right now. But I also know that Jeff Bezos has nesting yachts. What I don't know is how somebody could write the above paragraph and think "yeah, this is a good take. There is absolutely no way to decrease healthcare spending, or increase available funds. Also, US defense spending is exactly where it needs to be and every reader will agree that we can't possibly decrease that."
The particular above quote comes from a dilemma about whether or not a state should allow an exemption to the policy that forbid chemotherapy treatments for patients with no chance of long-term survival in the case of a man who wants to live five more months to see the birth of his child. The discussion ends with "the results are rising expenditures and irrational forms of rationing that favor visible patients over invisible victims. Carving out an exception [to the state's] rationing would provide precisely that unappealing trade off.
Sorry man, you're just gonna have to die sooner because the thought of spending *more* on healthcare and taking away from the 934 Billion in defense spending is just really unthinkable, maybe try not being poor in your next lifetime.
To round out my soapbox, as a licensed social worker I am not unfamiliar with ethical dilemmas. Many scenarios in the book - like disclosure of HIV status or whether or not dementia patients can consent to sex - are not unfamiliar. Many of my clients have had complex and/or terminal illnesses. Having conferenced numerous complex cases with doctors and other professionals, never once have "the tax payers" entered the conversation. Surely finances have, typically the question is "where do we get funding" and not "is it ethical to ask society to pay for this?" Generally speaking those in the healthcare field who actually see patients rather than just speculate on it have decided that preserving human life is not something we can put a price tag on.
I was pulled in by the interesting title but left disappointed. Some of the dilemmas were quite thought provoking, however I found the discussions to be lacking and, frankly, tiring. Taking a shot every time TAXPAYERS are mentioned would likely lead to dangerous levels of intoxication. Below is my rant on the most infuriating example.
Healthcare rationing, in some form or another, is unavoidable. The alternative—covering all possible healthcare costs for every living American—would vastly increase the percentage of gross national product devoted to medicine at the expense of other vital budget items, such as education, defense, or consumer goods.
Look baby, I know doctors have to make decisions based on the reality we are in right now. But I also know that Jeff Bezos has nesting yachts. What I don't know is how somebody could write the above paragraph and think "yeah, this is a good take. There is absolutely no way to decrease healthcare spending, or increase available funds. Also, US defense spending is exactly where it needs to be and every reader will agree that we can't possibly decrease that."
The particular above quote comes from a dilemma about whether or not a state should allow an exemption to the policy that forbid chemotherapy treatments for patients with no chance of long-term survival in the case of a man who wants to live five more months to see the birth of his child. The discussion ends with "the results are rising expenditures and irrational forms of rationing that favor visible patients over invisible victims. Carving out an exception [to the state's] rationing would provide precisely that unappealing trade off.
Sorry man, you're just gonna have to die sooner because the thought of spending *more* on healthcare and taking away from the 934 Billion in defense spending is just really unthinkable, maybe try not being poor in your next lifetime.
To round out my soapbox, as a licensed social worker I am not unfamiliar with ethical dilemmas. Many scenarios in the book - like disclosure of HIV status or whether or not dementia patients can consent to sex - are not unfamiliar. Many of my clients have had complex and/or terminal illnesses. Having conferenced numerous complex cases with doctors and other professionals, never once have "the tax payers" entered the conversation. Surely finances have, typically the question is "where do we get funding" and not "is it ethical to ask society to pay for this?" Generally speaking those in the healthcare field who actually see patients rather than just speculate on it have decided that preserving human life is not something we can put a price tag on.
August 19, 2019
This is one of those great summer reads, that is also a great book for the little room with no windows. Seventy-nine short descriptions of medical ethics quandaries all follow the same format: a brief description of the question, a commentary showing opposing ideas, and then some direction by laws or customs. Includes a good section for further reading.
Some questions are familiar, such as how to define life or death. Others are blindingly new, such as head transplants, what to do with frozen embryos if the parent(s) die, or if they already were implanted in a surrogate mother. The questions surrounding the liver transplant of Mickey Mantle, who was an alcoholic, and letting celebrities or rich families have precedence (or not) for organ transplants.
Another mind stretcher are the parents of one child, who provide for a second child to be born who will act as a compatible source (savior sibling) for an organ harvest to be transplanted into the older child. Another is a man who makes a sperm donation to a fertility clinic for in vitro fertilization in his wife. However, a laboratory worker steals his sperm, impregnates herself, and then wants the man to be responsible for their child from his stolen sperm. Or the deaf parents who wanted their embryos to be selected so their child will also be born deaf. From before birth to end of life decisions, the author explores but doesn't answer the moral and technological questions of modern medicine.
This is a mind stretcher of a book, and after being stretched, no one's mind ever goes back to the original shape. Great for short reading spurts that require contemplation and review; great for thinking about problems that will never happen to you, but are great at discussing with others; great for thinking about new things. I recommend this book for school libraries from high schools through college; for personal reading, and for most medical science professionals and technicians. Well written, easy to read, and thoughtful. Makes me glad I don't have to decide these kinds of cases!
Some questions are familiar, such as how to define life or death. Others are blindingly new, such as head transplants, what to do with frozen embryos if the parent(s) die, or if they already were implanted in a surrogate mother. The questions surrounding the liver transplant of Mickey Mantle, who was an alcoholic, and letting celebrities or rich families have precedence (or not) for organ transplants.
Another mind stretcher are the parents of one child, who provide for a second child to be born who will act as a compatible source (savior sibling) for an organ harvest to be transplanted into the older child. Another is a man who makes a sperm donation to a fertility clinic for in vitro fertilization in his wife. However, a laboratory worker steals his sperm, impregnates herself, and then wants the man to be responsible for their child from his stolen sperm. Or the deaf parents who wanted their embryos to be selected so their child will also be born deaf. From before birth to end of life decisions, the author explores but doesn't answer the moral and technological questions of modern medicine.
This is a mind stretcher of a book, and after being stretched, no one's mind ever goes back to the original shape. Great for short reading spurts that require contemplation and review; great for thinking about problems that will never happen to you, but are great at discussing with others; great for thinking about new things. I recommend this book for school libraries from high schools through college; for personal reading, and for most medical science professionals and technicians. Well written, easy to read, and thoughtful. Makes me glad I don't have to decide these kinds of cases!
November 5, 2019
A 75-year-old needs a kidney transplant. His 49-year-old daughter submits to testing to see if she can donate her kidney to him. Not only is she not a match, but she is not actually his daughter. Does the doctor who receives the test results need to tell her this?*
Dr. Appel is a psychiatrist and bioethicist. His book is full of short, often horrifying scenarios along with discussions about what would be ethical or unethical in each specific case.
This fascinating book inspired me to finally print a living will form and a power of attorney for health care. You can find the ones that are appropriate for you by searching online for the term "living will" or "power of attorney health care" and the name of your state or region.
*Dr. Appel's conclusion: Yes, the doctor should tell her because she may not get herself or her children screened for certain medical or genetic conditions if she erroneously believes she is from a different ethnic background. Also, the medical facility should update the forms to ask potential donors whether they want to know this information. A similar case actually happened to a woman in California. She said that although the news was a shock, she preferred to hear it from medical professionals rather than through gossip or a chance remark.
Dr. Appel is a psychiatrist and bioethicist. His book is full of short, often horrifying scenarios along with discussions about what would be ethical or unethical in each specific case.
This fascinating book inspired me to finally print a living will form and a power of attorney for health care. You can find the ones that are appropriate for you by searching online for the term "living will" or "power of attorney health care" and the name of your state or region.
*Dr. Appel's conclusion: Yes, the doctor should tell her because she may not get herself or her children screened for certain medical or genetic conditions if she erroneously believes she is from a different ethnic background. Also, the medical facility should update the forms to ask potential donors whether they want to know this information. A similar case actually happened to a woman in California. She said that although the news was a shock, she preferred to hear it from medical professionals rather than through gossip or a chance remark.
January 18, 2020
Recently, I stumbled upon an HBO documentary entitled JACOB, a brief look at the life of Jacob Appel, an incredibly brilliant man who has acquired numerous college degrees, teaches, researches, speaks, and writes both fiction and non-fiction. My library owns several of his works, and I checked out the ebook copy of this one. Mr. Appel describes imaginable and a few unimaginable (to me) medical ethics situations and follows each with a succinct, understandable, unbiased summary of decisions that were made or could be made in real or possible cases. He covers everything from perplexing problems related to conjoined twins to castrating sex offenders to life support to sperm donation to cloning to clitoral mutilation to religion/cultural influences and medical decision-making and beyond. I was particularly astounded and curious to learn of a case where a mother wanted to implant her deceased daughter’s embryos and give birth to her own grandchildren. Each situation is well researched, and there is an extensive bibliography at the end. Our advances in medical treatment and their intersection with our strong beliefs in ethical and/or emotional decision making get more complicated every year. This is a fascinating read, and it will provide much food for thought. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews