Book Review: Something for the Pain by Dr. Paul Austin
Something for the Pain: One Doctor’s Account of Life and Death in the ER
By Dr. Paul Austin
Norton, 2008
Norton, 2008
Reviewed by Kathryn Magendie
In language that spares no blood, guts, human frailties, or death, Something for the Pain (a collection of personal essays), is a peek into the life of an ER doctor and the perceptions he encounters—perceptions from his patients and their loved ones, his peers, his family, and of himself. The Family Man versus Doctor Man conflicts rear their ugly little heads like moles in the landscape; and often, Dr. Austin is depicted as that elusive animal when he arrives home after a long shift and looks about in perplexed sleepiness. There is no whitewashing the “mistakes” Austin makes with his family as he at times near-sleepwalks through his wife’s and childrens’ lives. However, I am forgiving of Dr. Austin’s supposed foibles, as he captured not only my attention, but my sympathy and understanding. There were moments I wanted to shout out to the people in his ER, “Don’t you understand? He’s doing his best! He is only human.” Or to his family, “Just let him sleep; that’s all he needs, just a little sleep.” Alternatively, I sympathized with his wife (Sally), by whose patience I was a bit awed. Though it cannot be helped in the life chosen, Dr. Austin’s work has exacted a toll upon his family; but somehow, Sally—the very spine that holds the book together—keeps the Austins from fracturing (there is only a little break, then the setting of bone, and what is left is never again perfect, but one would have to look closely to see the fissure that caused the pain).
The book is divided into three Parts, each Part a different span of time in Dr. Austin’s adult life. The introduction sets the tone, for even during highly emotive moments, Dr. Austin writes with a restrained hand, applying those same skills he uses to deal with emergencies: from a distance that only someone who is in contact with blood, guts, tears, distraught families, belligerent drunks, long wailing hours, lack of sleep and family time, and unbearably difficult decisions that could bring (and did bring) about the death of a human life. Entitled, “Introduction: Tool Bag,” Dr. Austin’s simple act of preparation compels one to read further just to see where he will next lead.
I interpreted Something for the Pain as Dr. Austin’s letter to his family, to his patients future and past, and perhaps even on behalf of his colleagues, as he writes out his struggle to be Good Doctor, Good Father, Good Husband, Good Samaritan, Good Man, when each of those titles pulls against one another—there can never be the Whole of All without the loss of Oneself. Add to the mix lack of sleep, real life-and-death situations, normal family stresses, the very Human Nature of Humans, how one separates the ability to do their job efficiently and still relate to human suffering, and there can only be emotional rundown (an understatement!). To all of us who read Something for the Pain, Dr. Austin is handing to readers the gift of outer-sight, as if saying, “Do you understand better now? Have I made it clear?” Yes, Dr. Austin, you have, and I appreciate all you do—Thank you for your sacrifices to do your job well, and for writing this book.
Dr. Austin spent three years in residency training in emergency medicine, and then two years as an assistant professor of emergency medicine. For the past fourteen years Austin worked in a group that serves a hospital that sees fifty-eight thousand patients a year. http://www.paulethanaustin.com/PaulEthanAustin/Home.html
The book is divided into three Parts, each Part a different span of time in Dr. Austin’s adult life. The introduction sets the tone, for even during highly emotive moments, Dr. Austin writes with a restrained hand, applying those same skills he uses to deal with emergencies: from a distance that only someone who is in contact with blood, guts, tears, distraught families, belligerent drunks, long wailing hours, lack of sleep and family time, and unbearably difficult decisions that could bring (and did bring) about the death of a human life. Entitled, “Introduction: Tool Bag,” Dr. Austin’s simple act of preparation compels one to read further just to see where he will next lead.
I interpreted Something for the Pain as Dr. Austin’s letter to his family, to his patients future and past, and perhaps even on behalf of his colleagues, as he writes out his struggle to be Good Doctor, Good Father, Good Husband, Good Samaritan, Good Man, when each of those titles pulls against one another—there can never be the Whole of All without the loss of Oneself. Add to the mix lack of sleep, real life-and-death situations, normal family stresses, the very Human Nature of Humans, how one separates the ability to do their job efficiently and still relate to human suffering, and there can only be emotional rundown (an understatement!). To all of us who read Something for the Pain, Dr. Austin is handing to readers the gift of outer-sight, as if saying, “Do you understand better now? Have I made it clear?” Yes, Dr. Austin, you have, and I appreciate all you do—Thank you for your sacrifices to do your job well, and for writing this book.
Dr. Austin spent three years in residency training in emergency medicine, and then two years as an assistant professor of emergency medicine. For the past fourteen years Austin worked in a group that serves a hospital that sees fifty-eight thousand patients a year. http://www.paulethanaustin.com/PaulEthanAustin/Home.html
Look for an upcoming interview with Dr. Paul Austin, coming soon to Roses & Thorns.
Kathryn Magendie is a writer and freelance editor, and Co-Managing Editor at The Rose & Thorn. Her essays, short stories, poems, and photography have been published in online and print magazines. Visit her at http://www.kathrynmagendie.com/
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