‘Medical Error: Prescription for Trouble Series’ by Richard L. Mabry, M.D. – Book Review

I have been reading and reviewing on my blog long enough that I am getting to read second books by selected authors. One author who falls into that category is Richard L. Mabry, M.D. I had the good fortune to read his first non-fiction release, ‘Code Blue;’ the latest in his ‘Prescription for Trouble’ series is ‘Medical Error.’

Here is the synopsis of this book:

She thinks things couldn’t get worse…then she opened the envelope. Dr. Anna McIntyre’s life was going along fine until someone else started living it. Her patient dies because of an identity mix-up, her medical career is in jeopardy because of forged prescriptions, and her credit is in ruins. She thought things couldn’t get worse, but that was before she opened the envelope and saw a positive HIV test with her name on it.

Here is the biography of this author:

Richard L. Mabry, M.D., is a retired physician and medical school professor who achieved worldwide recognition as a writer, speaker, and teacher before turning his talents to non-medical writing after his retirement. He is the author of one non-fiction book, and his inspiration pieces have appeared in numerous periodicals. Dr. Mabry’s first novel is entitled ‘Code Blue;’ he has also written a non-fiction book entitled ‘The Tender Scar: Life After The Death Of A Spouse.’ He and his wife, Kay, live in North Texas. 
 

Here is the book trailer for this suspenseful read:

The main character in this fast-paced book is Dr. Anna McIntyre, whose life is being turned upside down. She has endured identity theft, which is both extremely annoying and personally violating (it has happened to me in the past). This theft has affected both her personal and professional life.

Being that Dr. Mabry is a retired physician and medical school professor, he knows the ins and outs of the medical profession. For instance, when Dr. McIntyre performs surgery, Dr. Mabry takes his readers into the operating room with her.

An interesting aspect of the story is that the hospital in which Dr. McIntyre practices is Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas. A student of history will recognize the name of that hospital as the one in which President John F. Kennedy was taken after he was shot; it was where he subsequently died. Here Dr. McIntyre explains the tempo in that busy place:

Anna nodded her thanks and headed for the break room. Just being in the Emergency Room made her pulse quicken, as she relived memories of her own time as “Pit Boss” – the second year surgery resident charged with overseeing the ER at Parkland Hospital, arguably one of the busiest in the nation. The pressure was tremendous, but the opportunity to hone one’s clinical judgment and skills was almost unlimited. (p. 57)

Another main character in this book is Ross Donovan, the attorney that Anna hired to represent her and help her get out of the miry pit. I was amused by her description of him upon their first meeting:

Apparently no one was coming out to welcome her. Anna knocked on the closed door. In less than half a minute, Gregory Peck opened the door. Well, not him, but a handsome man with black, wavy hair, a cleft chin, and sparkling blue eyes that hinted of secrets that could not be shared….

As she settled into one of the two client chairs across the desk from Donovan, she gave him a quick appraisal. Probably forty years old or thereabouts. Crisp, clean white shirt with cuffs turned back a neat two folds, a conservative blue tie, dark blue suspenders. And although a reappraisal showed her that he wasn’t exactly a dead ringer for Gregory Peck, his looks would probably melt the hearts of female jurors from ages sixteen to sixty. (pp. 89-90)

Another character in the story is Dr. Nick Valentine, a pathologist at Parkland Hospital and a colleague of Dr. McIntyre’s who has a strong attraction to her. He accompanied her to a party which included many of her church friends. Nick was surprised at the company:

‘Enjoying yourself?” Anna eased up beside him. “I’m sorry I left you for a bit, but I had to help get the food on the table. Ready to eat?”

“Sure,” Nick answered. He pointed to the group of men he’d just left. “I don’t remember those guys’ names, but are they on the church staff or something? They were slinging Bible stuff around left and right.”

“Chet, the host, is an insurance agent. Charlie, on the left, is a mechanic. Rick, on the right, is a dentist.” She looked around and pointed. “The only minister I see here is the man in Bermuda shorts and flip-flops. That’s Robert, our pastor.” (p. 131)

Dr. McIntyre’s faith also had a positive impact on her attorney, Ross:

          “Oh, there’s an answer,” Anna said. “But only God has it, Then again ---”   

          “What?”

          “Maybe you’re the answer.”

After the conversation ended, Ross cradled the phone and stared at the ceiling. It was hard enough not to drink. It was hard enough to defend Anna against charges that seemed to worsen day by day. It was hard enough to remain professional in the face of feelings he was developing for her. Now, out of the blue, she’d told him God might be using him. Ross began to laugh. Maybe God really does have a sense of humor. (p. 192)

I appreciated the fact that, despite all of her troubles, Dr. McIntyre never lost faith or love for her God. Dr. Valentine also respected that aspect of her personality:

“Nick, that’s sort of the heart of everything I believe. ‘Do unto others as you would have them do to you.’ I don’t know if I have the words exactly right, but you get the meaning.”

“You know, one of the things I admire about you is the way you’ve held on to your faith in the midst of all that’s happened. I’m afraid mine is gone for good.”

“That’s not true,” Anna said. “Your faith is right where you left it.” (p. 217)

The climactic final scene was full of twists and turns; I did not see that ending coming! I will not give away any spoilers, but that scene – and the last page, which gave a hint of what was to come in Anna’s personal life – were satisfying and sweet!

In addition, there are discussion questions at the end of the book. I would recommend this book to books clubs everywhere.

As stated, I had the opportunity to read Dr. Mabry’s first novel in the ‘Prescription for Trouble’ series, ‘Code Blue;’ you can read my review here. I thoroughly enjoyed that book as well. Dr. Mabry is a talented man – previously a physical and medical school professor, and now a talented – and published! – author. Clearly he knows the medical industry, and he also now knows the publishing industry. The third book in his ‘Prescription for Trouble’ series is ‘Diagnosis Death,’ which will release in April, 2011. My Advance Reader Copy includes chapters 1 and 2; it is just as compelling as are the first two books! I thank Dr. Mabry for sharing his knowledge and his faith with his readers, and I wish continued success to him in his new publishing journey!

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Abingdon Press and this Advance Reader Copy was generously provided by the author for review purposes. Page numbers included in the quotes from this review from this ARC and may not match up with the final published copy.

‘Code Blue: Prescription for Trouble Series’ by Richard L. Mabry, MD – Book Review

The latest book to be added to my ‘This Book Has Been Read’ list (there really is no such list, but you get my drift!) is ‘Code Blue: Prescription for Trouble Series’ by Dr. Richard Mabry.    

Here is the description of this book from the back cover:

          Who wants Dr. Cathy Sewell dead?

For Dr. Cathy Sewell, Code Blue means more than just the cardiac emergencies she faces – it’s the state of her life when the return to her hometown doesn’t bring the peace she so desperately needs.

The town doctors resent the fact that she’s not only a newcomer, but also a woman, and the devastating results from one of her prescriptions may mean the end of her practice.

As two men compete for her affection, an enemy wants her out of town – or possibly even dead.

I am always interested in a good suspense novel!

Here is the book trailer for this exciting book:

Here is the biography of Dr. Mabry:

Richard L. Mabry, M.D. is a retired physician and medical school professor who achieved worldwide recognition as a writer, speaker, and teacher before turning his talents to non-medical writing after his retirement.  He is the author of one non-fiction book [The Tender Scar: Life After the Death of a Spouse], and his inspiration pieces have appeared in numerous periodicals.  He and his wife, Kay, live in North Texas.

Dr. Sewell had returned to her hometown of Dainger, Texas after an emotionally heartbreaking breakup with Robert, the man who she thought would one day be her fiancée.  She decided to returned back home.  Shortly after her homecoming, this is how she was greeted:

The black SUV barreled out of nowhere, its oversized tires straddling the centerline.  Cathy jerked the steering wheel to the right and jammed the brake pedal to the floor.  Her little Toyota rocked as though flicked by a giant hand before it spun off the narrow country road and hurtled toward the ditch and the peach orchard beyond it. (p. 7)

That is quite an opening paragraph!  I knew I was not going to be getting a lot of sleep that night!

After an appointment with her psychiatrist, her mind was reeling as to her situation:

On the drive back from Josh’s office, Cathy finally let down her guard long enough to think about what she’d dismissed during her session.  She was sure she wasn’t imaging her problems.  The rumors circulating around town.  Her request for hospital privileges that encountered a roadblock at every turn.  The black SUV intent on her destruction.

But did they represent some kind of plot?  Or could they be unconnected, random events?  Was what she felt a simple case of paranoia?  Was she sliding into the same mental illness that had consumed her mother and threatened to tear her parents’ marriage apart?  Paranoid schizophrenia.  She remembered a line that had made her laugh during medical school.  It’s didn’t seem so funny now.  Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you.  (pp. 44-45)

In addition to the intrigue revolving around those who may be out to get her, she also had to handle a problem which some may not consider to be a problem – being pursued by two men.  However, she was very concerned about guarding her heart after the heartbreak involving her relationship with Richard; she was afraid to trust again.  The two men who were in pursuit were Dr. Marcus Bell, on staff at the hospital and the chairman of the credentials committee, and Will Kennedy, an attorney who was her sweetheart in high school who had never gotten over her. 

Dr. Sewell’s relationship with God is strained, to say the least.  Her parents had been killed in a car accident, and she blames him for the tragedy.  As is often the case, the Lord brought believers across her path in order to bring her back to Himself.  Here are the words of one of her patients:

“Please don’t worry about me.  This matter is in God’s hands.  There’s story after story in here [the Bible] where Jesus tells us that God is in charge; we’re all in His hands.  I am.  You are.  So let Him take over.  You just do your best.”  (p. 90)

That is valuable advice for all of us in all situations!

Being that pharmaceutical companies seem to have so much influence on physicians these days, I was grateful to see this assertion come from the ‘mouth’ of Dr. Sewell when she was questioned about a prescription decision she made:

“Had you been visited by a detail man from one of the pharmaceutical companies that makes this form of digitalis just before you saw Mr. Nix?”

Cathy bristled.  “I never let pressure by pharmaceutical companies influence my prescribing.  And for your information, generic drugs aren’t detailed to doctors like brand name drugs.  Maybe that’s why they’re cheaper.”

On a personal side note, I appreciate the fact that Dr. Mabry made this point in his novel.  As I have spent a great deal of time in doctors’ office waiting rooms accompanying my mother in her later years as pharmaceutical sales representatives were given preferential treatment over patients, I appreciate Dr. Mabry portraying a physician with high scruples who makes her own decisions, with being swayed by the perks given to her by a large corporation.  Not to mention standing up to the insurance companies that wanted to have her roll over and accept their lower payments in order to increase their stock values.

Okay, I am getting off my soap box now!

Here’s an exchange between Cathy and Will pertaining to what Cathy has to deal with, and how Will interprets things:

“If you have that many insurance claims to file, business must be picking up.”

“I wish.  Most of these are claims we have to re-file because the insurance company either paid incorrectly or denied improperly.  Sometimes I think they do that to hang onto their money a bit longer.  I wonder how many doctors’ offices take the denials at face value, bill the patient for the balance, and let it go at that.”

Will leaned back and crossed his legs at the ankles.  “That’s what makes you special, Cathy.  You’re not ‘most doctors.’  You take the time to care.  The folks in Dainger are lucky to have you practicing here.” (p. 183)

I really enjoyed this book!  Being that Dr. Mabry was a physician for so many years, he was able to show ‘the rest of the story’ as it relates to the life of a doctor.  He reflected the real struggles that they have to endure – fighting with insurance companies to receive what he was owed, the politics involved in getting privileges at a hospital, and all sorts of other scenarios which those of us not in the medical profession may not be aware.  At the same time, he showed God’s love and grace time and time again, especially via the hands and feet of Will and his parents.

The second book in the ‘Prescription for Trouble’ series, entitled ‘Medical Error’ will be released September 2010.  There is a bonus chapter at the end of this book, and it sounds terrific also!

You can read the first chapter of this book here.

You can order this book here.      

This book was published by Abingdon Press and generously provided by the author.