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Cheating Death: The Doctors and Medical Miracles that Are Saving Lives Against All Odds
This riveting book from a bestselling author and neurosurgeon explores the unbelievable science that has saved lives and made recovery possible despite all odds. "An exciting medical thriller with the compassion, hope, excitement and aspiration that define Sanjay." —Lance Armstrong, Olympic athlete An unborn baby with a fatal heart defect. A skier submerged for an hour in a frozen Norwegian lake. A comatose brain surgery patient whom doctors have declared a "vegetable". Twenty years ago all of them would have been given up for dead, with no realistic hope for survival. But today, thanks to incredible new medical advances, each of these individuals is alive and well. A bold new breed of doctors has achieved amazing rescues by refusing to accept that any life is irretrievably lost. Extended cardiac arrest, "brain death," not breathing for over an hour—all these conditions used to be considered inevitably fatal, but they no longer are. Today, revolutionary advances are blurring the traditional line between life and death in fascinating ways. Drawing on real-life stories and using his unprecedented access to the latest medical research, Dr. Gupta dramatically presents exciting accounts of how pioneering physicians and researchers are altering our understanding of how the human body functions when it comes to survival—and why more and more patients who once would have died are now alive. From experiments with therapeutic hypothermia to save comatose stroke or heart attack victims to lifesaving operations in utero to the study of animal hibernation to help wounded soldiers on far-off battlefields, these remarkable case histories transform and enrich all our assumptions about the true nature of death and life. Read more
About This Book
This riveting book...
| ISBN-13 | 9780446508865 |
| ISBN-10 | 0446508861 |
| Publisher | Grand Central Life & Style |
| Publication Date | October 2010 |
| Edition | 1 |
| Pages | 304 |
| Language | English |
| Dimensions | 5.3 x 1.3 x 8 inches |
| Weight | 12.8 ounces |
Expert Analysis & Insights
In-depth editorial assessment across key dimensions
The narrative-driven format is highly engaging, with reviewers describing it as a 'page-turner' and 'medical thriller.' The real-life cases of survival against the odds are memorable and likely to reinforce key concepts like the reversibility of death as a process.
Excellent for inspiring interest and retention through storytelling, particularly for lay readers or students early in their medical education. Recommend as a supplementary read to spark curiosity.
The book cites interviews with researchers and mentions specific studies, such as the misdiagnosis rate of permanent vegetative states and the three-phase model of cardiac arrest. It covers cutting-edge topics like suspended animation and hibernation research, providing a snapshot of ongoing scientific inquiry.
Useful as a starting point for understanding the landscape of resuscitation research, but researchers should seek primary literature for rigorous evidence synthesis.
The narrative structure with real patient cases makes complex topics like therapeutic hypothermia and in-utero surgery accessible to a lay audience, as reviewers note it is 'easy to read' and 'fast-paced.' The author, a neurosurgeon, explains terminology clearly, walking readers through concepts like the three-phase model of cardiac arrest.
Useful as supplementary reading for medical students or residents to appreciate the human side of resuscitative medicine, but not as a primary pedagogical tool. Pair with a standard textbook for foundational knowledge.
The book covers a broad range of topics including hypothermia, CPR, suspended animation, near-death experiences, in-utero surgery, and miracles, providing a wide-angle view of life-saving advances.
Suitable for a general audience or as a brief overview for clinicians in other fields, but not for those seeking in-depth knowledge of any single topic.
The book highlights real-world applications of therapeutic hypothermia, modified CPR techniques, and suspended animation research, with examples like the Arizona CPR program improving survival rates. It provides insight into emerging protocols that could inform clinical practice, though these are presented as illustrative stories rather than formal guidelines.
Not recommended for direct bedside use. Clinicians interested in hypothermia protocols should consult current guidelines from organizations like the AHA or ILCOR instead.
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