A Surgeon's Lessons, Learned and Lost

John Raffensperger, MD, describes how doctors in the mid-20th century learned medicine in the autopsy room, the laboratory, and at bedside, training to become well-rounded general physicians.

Since then, many doctors have specialized during medical school, depending on X-rays and blood tests, rather than listening and "laying on of hands." Medicine became a de-personalized business, subject to greedy insurance executives and hospital administrators.

"A compelling and candid account of how sur...