Oxygen

"Some Things Don't Ever Get Settled..."

"...You just make a place for them. Learn to let them sit there with you, side by side with the good."

Dr. Marie Heaton is an experienced anesthesiologist who has dedicated her life to her craft - partly because she loves what she does and who she is professionally, but also because she is running from who she is personally. Working insane hours, always on the verge of absolute exhaustion, she has little time for her extended family and personal life.

But thankfully, this story isn't about finding satisfaction and completion in her personal life. Rather it's her professional life that is in shambles. Despite being a very good anesthesiologist, an 8 year old girl dies after a routine operation. Although initially supported by the hospital and her fellow doctors, it soon becomes apparent that due to impending litigation, loyalty becomes a precious commodity. Dr. Heaton must come to terms with her perceived betrayal of the very institution to which she has given so much of herself. And things only get worse when it looks like criminal charges might be coming.

This book offers interesting insight into the relationship between medicine and the law and the pressures the law exerts on doctors involved in malpractice suits. The very people with whom a doctor should be able to review a case, to discuss all possibilities, are the very people who could be compelled to testify against that very same doctor. Hence, being accused of malpractice thrusts the doctor into an extremely lonely world.

Almost peripherally, the author also delves into Dr. Heaton's familial life. Having been forced to take some time off, Dr. Heaton visits her sister with whom she is close, but has always been guarded. There, she realizes that it's time to make peace with her father, whom she hasn't seen in three years. I must admit that at times it seems that Dr. Heaton's personal story lines are added almost as filler - as a way to make her seem more human, but does little to advance the story line.

Still, the writing is impeccable, although a little complex at times. But its technicality is what makes the book so authentic and genuine. Dr. Heaton thinks and speaks exactly as you would imagine a doctor to do so.

The negatives of this book? There are times when Dr. Heaton seems a little unlikeable because she is so self-absorbed. For example, she attends the 8 year old's funeral because she feels she needs to, never thinking about the girl's mother and what she needs. So soon after the girl's death, the person who is possible responsible for her daughter's death is the last person that should be there - and yet, Dr. Heaton decides she has to, for her own sake. Yet, the unlikeable moments are few and far between. And for the most part, the book remains a good medical/legal drama.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

If you only read one book this summer...

It should be this one. Brilliant doctor, brilliant debut. The kind of book you can't wait to tell your friends about. IN fact, I'm going to call my mother right now...

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Disappointed

This book was not captivating. The plot and characters were ordinary. If you enjoy twists and turns that keep you guessing, I would not recommend this book.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Not what I expected...........

By reading the synopsis I thought this would be a good book. I was somewhat disappointed. The writing style is dry, no real character development. The main character is an anesthesiologist who basically ends up losing a child on the operating table. Was it her fault or not? She basically is haunted by this and cannot get over it. After the incident it seemed the story just dragged with no real suprises or twists. Quick read, but not worth buying.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great Read

This is a novel about Dr Marie Heaton an anesthesiologist in Seattle who after 7 years of excellent patient care finds herself in the middle of a malpractice lawsuit. This story grips at her pain and frustration about why this patient died on her table. The truth is a shocker. A must read for all but definetely for anyone in the healthcare field.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great Book

This was a great book. One of those that you pick up and can't set back down. I would reccommend it to anyone who loves a great suspense book. Can't wait to read other books by this author!! Definately a 5 star book!!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Medical Thriller

Excellent!!!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A haunting tale of mistakes, trust, and moving on

Carol Cassella's Oxygen, based on her own experiences as an anesthesiologist in Seattle, tells of one woman's haunting journey through heartbreak, forgiveness, and learning to trust. Dr. Marie Heaton has worked as an anesthesiologist at a Seattle hospital for several years. Having put herself through medical school, she is estranged from her Texas roots. She worries about her father, who is still living on his own and driving despite the fact that he's nearly legally blind, and keeps in touch with her sister Lori only through phone calls. Marie has a very limited personal life outside of work; she's not currently dating, although she has a close friendship with her former lover and colleague Joe Hillary. Although she has no children of her own, she has a close relationship with Lori's teenage daughter, and the two talk on the phone for hours.

Despite working 70 hours a week, Marie loves her job, of the life-or-death decisions while administering anesthesia that keep her patients pain-free and breathing comfortably. But one fateful day, a routine surgery goes horribly wrong, and Marie is wrapped up in grueling months of depositions, accusations and vicious self-doubt during her medical malpractice trial. At the same time, her out-of-state father needs increasing assistance, but Lori is busy raising her family, so the responsibility falls on Marie.

Marie is a strong, realistic voice, and her inner strength and compassion allow her to make peace with the events that have thrown her personal and professional life into a panic. Cassella also handles Marie's father's gradual dependence in a sensitive, realistic portrayal. Thankfully, the medical elements are not presented in an overly heavy-handed manner, and are presented as fascinating footnotes as Cassella walks the reader through the complicated dance of anesthesia and the grueling schedules of hospitals. Oxygen winds together these many strands of doubt, betrayal, and the slow process of grieving and recovery in a fast-paced read that will resonate with fans of ER and those who love medical (and legal) thrillers.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Can't Wait for your next book, Carol Cassella

The PERFECT read. Great characters and character development, suspense, factual information--Oxygen has it all.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

OXYGEN Needed for this Breathless Thriller!

Carol Cassella¿s mixture of mystery and medical thriller, supported by the authenticity of her many years as an anesthesiologist, results in her page turning debut book, Oxygen: A Novel. Casella¿s Dr. Marie Heaton is also an anesthesiologist who is passionate and professional about her life¿s work. She works at Seattle¿s First Lutheran Hospital where she prides herself in the care and expertise with which she conducts her everyday life as a physician. Starting out as a routine day, with a busy schedule that includes a pediatric case of an 8 year old, mentally challenged girl later in the afternoon, Dr. Heaton¿s day suddenly turns into every doctor¿s worse nightmare. What should have been a simple operation to remove a cyst on little Jolene Jansen¿s back, results in tragedy and finds Marie shockingly facing a malpractice suit as she questions herself as to what went wrong. What follows is Marie¿s life falling apart as she is enveloped in legal paperwork, autopsy results, self recrimination, and the realization that people who were her supporters are quick to abandon her. Her one time lover, Dr. Joe Hillary, becomes the person she thinks she can count on to help her make it though this horror and try and save her career. Add to this, a problem in Marie¿s personal life as her aging father is becoming more dependent on others as his eyesight fails. Marie finds that the responsibility for his care suddenly comes to her even though her connection with her family in Texas has not been a close one for years. Her sister Lori, however, is busy raising a family and so Marie is left with not much of a choice as to the care of her father. Everything in Dr. Heaton¿s once precisely ordered life begins to crumble as everyone and every part of her life suddenly seems to be crashing in on her. How Carol Cassella brings the story to its climax and Marie Heaton¿s life turns out, is told with the expertise of a seasoned writer. The truth of the profession and the workings of medical field are never glossed over by Casella as she gives the reader a REAL look at what goes on in this medical industry while still engaging us in a thriller that only leaves us wanting more from this wonderful new author. Submitted by Karen Haney, August, 2008

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is a strong medical thriller

Seattle anesthesiologist Dr. Marie Heaton has no time grieve the death of an eight-year-old patient Jolene in the operating room as the family filed a malpractice suit. The endless meetings with her lawyer and those of the other interested parties leave Marie thinking back on her life while everyone awaits the critical results of the autopsy.---------------- Having never married or had children Marie wonders if she erred focusing on medicine however observing her sister¿s family fight and fuss makes her also realize she does not miss combat of that sort. Still estrange from her dad, he feels for him as he is going blind. Her best friend and former lover Joe Hillary seems to want more from her although he insists he is only trying to help her through the death and its aftermath. Finally there is lawsuit that seems to increasingly focus on the anesthesiologist.------------- This is a strong medical thriller that digs deep into the uglier side of the health field enabling the readers to see a ghastly bottom line. The investigation into the child¿s death is filled with twists as the aftermath of the tragedy leaves a previously confident Marie doubting her skills and that of her associates and worried about the finances if she loses in court. Her relationship with her dad adds depth to understanding Marie. Readers will be hooked from the moment Dr. Heaton meets Jolene and thinks something is not quite right and never slows down until the final conceivable stunning spin.----------- Harriet Klausner

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Fabulous Book

I must admit that I seldom complete a book cover to cover, but this one I did! What a superb story. It kept my interest from the beginning to the end, including some unsuspecting turns along the way. Please keep writing more just like it!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Definitely Worth Reading

I would highly recommend this book. Cassella does an amazing job of developing her characters, but not too deliberately which makes it a smart read. Dr. Heaton is very likable and I found my emotions mirroring hers many times throughout the book. The ending will be a huge surprise...I highly recommend this for great writing, likable characters and an interesting plot. If you're tired of the same of chick lit, pick up this smart read and enjoy! :)

Highly recommended

Well written, several unexpected twists and turns, good book!

Wouldn't recommend it!

Not that great of a book. Not much depth.

Great Book!

Love this book! Definitly one to read again.

Love+this+book

What+a+great+read.++I+was+intrigued+by+the+story+and+the+author%27s+beautiful+descriptions+of+the+art+of+anesthesia+were+stunning.++%0A%0A

Fantastic Read

Very well done. Enjoyed the reading the entire book, cover to cover.

Awesome Novel, Must Read!!

One of the best books I have ever read! All of the characters are captivating! Every page is a mystery as Dr.Marie Heaton tries to uncover the reason of the unnecessary death of a young child while in her hands. The ending, and the REAL reason for the child's death, is such a shock!

Engrossing!

This story is truly a page turner. It is the story of an anesthesiologist, Dr. Marie Heaton, and gives a graphic, realistic read of her daily life and one day, a tragedy. It is centered in Seattle, a place that I've visited often, and it's description of the area and places is right on the money. It's also not "just" a medical read, it gives romance and a wonderful mystery/twist. It doesn't hurt that the author is, really, an anesthesiologist! Would love to find another book by the author someday. Soon!