Bernard Mansheim

A Doctor a Day Bernard Mansheim

A Doctor a Day is a novel about one physician and the physical, emotional and psychological toll of his dedication. He's a good doctor with ten years of unrelenting care for dying patients and their families. The pressure becomes unbearable when he is sued for malpractice, leading him to consider suicide as the only escape. Though the story is fictional, it reflects the all too common, real-life issues faced by practicing physicians in today's world.

Why did I write this novel?

My major goal was to provide insight into the mind of a physician by following the main character, Dr. Luke James, through his tenth year of medical practice. You become privy to his challenges and fears, unmasking the psychological burden he endures. It serves as an example of what many of today's physicians experience during their careers and how some can be driven to extremes.

In the real world, an air of medical infallibility is still the prerequisite to instilling patient confidence. This expectation presents an unrealistic, psychologically exhausting burden ultimately damaging to doctors and patients alike. It might help explain why the physician suicide rate is fifty percent greater than the general population. Even worse, the mental health support systems designed to help physicians are severely lacking.

This leads to the all-important question--especially critical given our continual demand for good medical care--Who heals our healers?