Parsons has done a fine job of creating a
character caught up in his own success, too sure of his abilities, determined
to a fault, ambitious and yet genuinely good at what he does. When disaster
starts to rain down all around him, partly because of his smug over confidence,
but equally because of circumstances beyond his control, he finds his life and
the lives of his family targeted by a masterful Machiavelli.
Dr. Steve Mitchell is a star at the teaching
hospital where he is a respected surgical resident. His prospects are better
than good, they’re stellar, and then his life starts to fall apart.
Overconfidence in the operating room causes him to make a life-altering choice
for his patient, while another of his patients is declining and no one can
figure out why. These two events run a parallel course as one disaster after
another makes Mitchell begin to doubt the security of his future and his
marriage.
Those who once regarded him as the golden boy
will hardly speak to him. His wife becomes suspicious of changes in his
behavior and his absences from home. He is banned from doing the work he loves,
and he’s lost a bit of his swagger and a lot of his confidence. The fiercest
blow comes from a betrayal that leads him to discover horrific facts about a
colleague that leaves him dazed and helpless.
Mitchell’s downward spiral slows when he digs
deep and finds the core strengths that made him want to be a surgeon in the
first place. With his knowledge of computers and help from an unexpected source
he begins to make his way back, but the way ahead is rocky because he is
dealing with an adversary pathologically bent on ruining his life while trying
to justify murderous acts.
Parsons writes vividly even when describing
medical and technical details. You are in the action right along with Mitchell.
“Do Harm” isn’t for the faint of heart. The
doc talk can be pretty grim, but the overall story is compelling, a complex tale
of human frailty, unexpected compassion and professional duplicity. A great medical
thriller from a talented writer. I recommend the book to anyone who likes a good story well told.
This is Parsons’ debut novel. His knowledge
of hospital and operating procedure are obvious and based on his personal
experience as a board-certified urologist
with degrees from Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, and Johns
Hopkins. He is on the faculty at the University of California San Diego.
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