Title: The Jaded Caduceus
Author: Michael S. Hickey, M.D. F.A.C.S
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-9845-5778-0
Pages: 312
Genre: Fiction / Science-Fiction
Reviewed by: Tara Mcnabb

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In this nail-biting story of dedication and sacrifice, an experienced trauma surgeon becomes infected with HIV while operating, causing him to reflect on his life in the face of almost certain death.

Jason Stone is a seasoned and accomplished trauma surgeon known for his professionalism and commitment to the job. Respected by his peers and liked by all, he works diligently to help those affected by trauma through his skills in the operating room. Although the threat of becoming infected by an HIV positive patient during an operation is always a possibility, Dr. Stone and his colleagues have accepted the risks, and do whatever they can to minimize them. So when an emergency operation takes place one fateful night when Dr. Stone’s on duty, he has no reason to think it will change his life forever. But when an assistant accidentally startles and cuts Dr. Stone’s hand with an HIV infected knife during surgery, panic begins to set in.

As Dr. Stone must come to grips with the fact that he may have contracted a lethal disease, his personal and professional worlds start to collapse around him. Forced to quit practicing, his medical license is revoked. Seemingly endless tests ensue, and the agony of waiting for a final diagnosis is almost unbearable. The emotional roller coaster Stone experiences is expertly written; he fluctuates between calm acceptance of his fate and bitter rage at the cruel hand he was dealt. He even begins to question his career choice, convinced that he could have avoided such a fate by going into a different profession. The astonishment and shock that follows the realization life can change in an instant is heartbreakingly rendered. The character of Dr. Stone is a universal one, and any reader will be able to identify with his confusion and distress over his predicament. The more his life seems to deteriorate, the more he begins to question the true meaning of existence and what it means to be alive. As the reader, we are invested in his fight against the disease because his struggle depicts so purely the human condition, and our ultimate vulnerability.

The Michael S. Hickey is himself a retired trauma surgeon, which explains the vividly realistic descriptions of hospitals, staff, and medical equipment. His ability to capture the tense energy of the ER facilities is superb, as are the descriptions of the helicopter transports and the grueling work schedule. But fundamentally, The Jaded Caduceus is a book about the heroic sacrifices some of us make to help those in need, even if it means destroying ourselves in the process.