Ken Hillman "Signs of Life. Cases from Intensive Care"

Author: Ken Hillman Title: Signs of Life: Cases from the ICU. Year of publication: 2011 Description: Ken Hillman—an internationally renowned specialist—shares his wealth of experience with readers. The fascinating cases the author has encountered over the course of his long career vividly capture the atmosphere of the struggle to save a patient’s life. Authentic stories of victories and defeats, as well as the terrifying dilemmas doctors face. Can one person’s life be more valuable than anyone else’s? Do I have the right to decide on life and death? The book offers a critical look at the successes and advances of modern medicine, as well as various aspects of the work in an intensive care unit. It might seem that Hilman’s book is written in a similar vein to David H. Newman’s well-known *The Shadow of Hippocrates*. This is by no means a repetition of the theme, despite the similar experiences of both doctors, but rather a different, valuable perspective on the hardships of a doctor’s work. Spectacular rescue operations, which fire the imagination and are often depicted in movies, contain little truth. The reality, however, lies in the emotions, moments of doubt, dedication, and tears. There is no glorification of the medical profession here—instead, there is truth, presented with endearing honesty and inviting discussion.