The House of God

[electronichka]

Hi,

Did anyone read the book The House of God? If yes, I was wondering what you guys think about the way they portray the internship period.

Thanks 🙂

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[velo]

I'm reading it right now and was planning on posting this exact same thread in the residency forum when i was finished.

So yeah, what do people think? what rings true and what is narrative license? Just from shadowing experiences I can appreciate the "gomer" observations...but is residency really as unrewarding as it seems in the book (or at least at the point of the book I'm at)...Is the fat man right? is the cure the disease? any thoughts would be interesting

 

[ak1978]

Laws of the House of God

1. GOMERS DON?T DIE.
2.GOMERS GO TO GROUND.
3.AT A CARDIAC ARREST, THE FIRST PROCEDURE IS TO TAKE YOUR OWN PULSE.
4.THE PATIENT IS THE ONE WITH THE DISEASE.
5.PLACEMENT COMES FIRST.
6.THERE IS NO BODY CAVITY THAT CANNOT BE REACHED WITH A #14 NEEDLE AND A GOOD STRONG ARM.
7.AGE + BUN = LASIX DOSE.
8.THEY CAN ALWAYS HURT YOU MORE.
9.THE ONLY GOOD ADMISSION IS A DEAD ADMISSION.
10.IF YOU DON?T TAKE A TEMPERATURE, YOU CAN?T FIND A FEVER.
11.SHOW ME A BMS* WHO ONLY TRIPLES MY WORK AND I WILL KISS HIS FEET. * Medical Student from the "Best Medical School."
12.IF THE RADIOLOGY RESIDENT AND THE BMS* BOTH SEE A LESION ON THE CHEST X-RAY, THERE CAN BE NO LESION THERE.
13.THE DELIVERY OF MEDICAL CARE IS TO DO AS MUCH NOTHING AS POSSIBLE.

 

[Jalby]

I think it nailed it. The people I am with at County USC are just like the people in the book. We even have names for all the patients that are exactly the same type as in HOG.

 

[16846]

I think it nailed it. The people I am with at County USC are just like the people in the book. We even have names for all the patients that are exactly the same type as in HOG.

I agree with Jalby. The hospital I worked at before starting medical school was very much like the House of God. I couldn't tell you how many patients were killed through sheer stupidity or residents trying too hard and ultimately killing the patient they were trying to save.

 

[trex92499]

But in no way shape or form will you pull the kind of A$$ the residents did in the book...that has been the sole difference between that book and reality 😉

 

[lattimer13]

But in no way shape or form will you pull the kind of A$$ the residents did in the book...that has been the sole difference between that book and reality 😉

damn!

that was the only thing i was looking forward to in residency after reading the book.
😀

 

[Seaglass]

The laws are true. The rest is a nice story. Remember - the author became a psychiatrist. I think that speaks for itself.

Actually, an attending told me today that there is a sequel about his psych residency experience that he was similarly unprepared for.

As for our hospital - well, I am an intern sitting up here on a floor all by myself with about 30 patients to watch over tonight, but there is a resident around here somewhere.

C

 

[velo]

I guess here's my question....i'm about 2/3s of the way through right now, and he seems to find his job completely unrewarding...actually he seems to hate it. I think i've come across two crumbs of optimisim so far.

I can believe that the rules are true, I wish all the sex was true 😀 , but does the dispair and pessimism ring true as well. Some of it has to be rewarding right?! even for 1st years?

 

[Seaglass]

So far I am tired but not depressed. Actually I'm having a lot of fun. People call me Doctor!

 

[velo]

that's what i wanted to hear! a bit of optimism...anyone else out there that thought the book rang true but still enjoys residency?

 

[med_stud_07]

Yeah, after hearing this talk about the book, I went to the bookstore and paid hella for the book. I about 1/5 of the way into it. I want Molly. 😀

 

[16846]

The laws are true. The rest is a nice story. Remember - the author became a psychiatrist. I think that speaks for itself.

Actually, an attending told me today that there is a sequel about his psych residency experience that he was similarly unprepared for.

As for our hospital - well, I am an intern sitting up here on a floor all by myself with about 30 patients to watch over tonight, but there is a resident around here somewhere.

C

I read the sequel as well, considering I want to go into psych. I believe some of what is written in the sequel is true, but most of it is definetly fiction. If anyone thinks the first book is depressing, the second beats it by a long shot, hands down.

 

[med_stud_07]

I read the sequel as well, considering I want to go into psych. I believe some of what is written in the sequel is true, but most of it is definetly fiction. If anyone thinks the first book is depressing, the second beats it by a long shot, hands down.

what's the sequel title?

 

[breski]

I believe it is Mount Misery

 

[DOctorJay]

yup it's Mount Misery, i read both of them too.

-J

 

[funkless]

Don't lose faith. There's sex on the horizon!!!

Even if you weren't blessed with the flawless, aquiline features and babe-magnet charm that I was, you can rest assured that when you're done with your dogsh*t residency schedge and your dogsh*t residency pay, you'll be able to attract female attention via income alone. Granted, it will be superficial, loveless, ego-driven sport-f*cking, but beggars can't be choosers!


--Funkless

 

[med_stud_07]

Don't lose faith. There's sex on the horizon!!!

Even if you weren't blessed with the flawless, aquiline features and babe-magnet charm that I was, you can rest assured that when you're done with your dogsh*t residency schedge and your dogsh*t residency pay, you'll be able to attract female attention via income alone. Granted, it will be superficial, loveless, ego-driven sport-f*cking, but beggars can't be choosers!


--Funkless

Great. I can't wait. 👍

 

[16846]

Great. I can't wait. 👍

Amen! 👍

 

[Indebt4Life]

All I know is that if I was Berry from HOG, I wouldn't put up with that lying, cheating bastard. I'd kick his sleezy whinning butt to the curb and even if he tried to give me a huge purple diamond like the one Kobe gave Vanessa, I'd slam the door in his face! Right after I accept the diamond as a gift of course.

 

[velo]

All I know is that if I was Berry from HOG, I wouldn't put up with that lying, cheating bastard. I'd kick his sleezy whinning butt to the curb and even if he tried to give me a huge purple diamond like the one Kobe gave Vanessa, I'd slam the door in his face! Right after I accept the diamond as a gift of course.

You of course remember that Berry was fine with his affairs and basically admitted that she was cheating on him too right? 🙂

But I agree that he's a whiner...who goes into psychiatry...come on!!

The Fat Man could hack it...what's roy's problem? 😀

(FAT MAN RAWKS!!!)

 

[Indebt4Life]

You of course remember that Berry was fine with his affairs and basically admitted that she was cheating on him too right? 🙂

But I agree that he's a whiner...who goes into psychiatry...come on!!

The Fat Man could hack it...what's roy's problem? 😀

(FAT MAN RAWKS!!!)

No, she said something like "If you can cheat, then so can I, don't be suprised" but there never was any mention of her actually cheating. Plus, she would play the role of his girlfriend in the public eye (holiday family parties, work related parties).

I agree, I like fat man better.

 

[phllystyl]

The fat man does indeed know the score.

 

[Twitch]

This book would make one heck of a movie! I've read it once and can't wait to read it again.

 

[fiatlux]

.

 

[Indebt4Life]

All American women that guys should avoid at all costs, golddiggers like Vanessa... And Kobe is a shmuck! Vanessa and all just stick around for the glitz and the $$.... now if you find someone that sticks with you through med school, internship, residency (someone like Berry).... then one can only hope you were smart enough to put a ring on that finger unless of course you become like our good man Roy, get screwed by the GOMERS, the nurses, and basically your internship year and then you start fockin Thunder Thighs and Molly on the same nite, well then, ROCK ON!!! 😀

....and Fat Man kicks ass! 😎 😎

FYI: Vanessa wants a divorce from Kobe. I guess the big purple diamond was not enough substitute for the lies and betrayal. Good for her!

And the sex in that book is totally overrated. Dream on if you think you're going to get that much action.

 

[urdman]

I havn't finished the book yet (3/5 done) but the impression i got from the book was his disappointment wasn't necessarly b/c of the residency but more due to his own expectations. as a 4th year who is close to his interns and residents, I feel residency is just like anything else in life, you get from it whatever you put in. every resident that i see who is easy going and doesn't make his or her own life harder has a decent time but those who feel like they need to fix everything or everything needs to be under their absolute control are usually miserable. same goes for the students. Since I read Fat Man's advice on how to be a human to your patients, ask them about their family and stupid **** like that, they all love me. It's funny how some of your experiences start to mirror the book. One of my old gomer's even offerred to hook me up with her granddaugther after I decided that I was not gonna be the 20th person that mornig who asks her if she has had any BM's.

And about getting laid..... some resident do but the problem is that most nurses (specially in university hospitals ) these days are really overweight and angry in general with some few exceptions(my freaking surgery resident with the only hot nurse on 6 south). I must admit I did start to check out the 60+ yo social worker when my gomer's started to pile up. only if it was gauranteed that she would start getting them placed...

 

[velo]

bump

 

[Rod Farva]

This book would make one heck of a movie! I've read it once and can't wait to read it again.

It was made into a movie... made in the early '80s, starring Tim Matheson as Roy, and it even features Michael Richards aka Kramer as that cardiologist who runs all the time (book name escapes me). I saw the movie not long after reading the book and it was decent. I don't know if you can even find the movie at any local Blockbuster or anything, I think it occasionally shows up on HBO52 at about 3 am though... look out for it.

 

[automaton]

Some of it has to be rewarding right?! even for 1st years?

hope you find memorizing crap to be rewarding, because otherwise, no.

 

[Twitch]

It was made into a movie... made in the early '80s, starring Tim Matheson as Roy, and it even features Michael Richards aka Kramer as that cardiologist who runs all the time (book name escapes me). I saw the movie not long after reading the book and it was decent. I don't know if you can even find the movie at any local Blockbuster or anything, I think it occasionally shows up on HBO52 at about 3 am though... look out for it.

Great, I'll DVR it (or like some like to say TiVO it). I'm assuming the movie is called the same thing as the book title.

Thanks,
-Y_Marker

 

[JDOC]

I just finished reading House of God last week. It was a little depressing. I did enjoy all the perverse sexploits. Hopefully residency will be better with the hour restrictions.

 

[freddydpt]

I just finished the book myself and, now, of course I don't want to start medical school! I'm like, wtf. Who wants to go through all that? I hope I have a wider eye during my rotations... plus I hope I fall in love medicine when I finally get to school... oh man what have we gotten ourselves into???
Oh well, at least I still have a kick ass pick up line at the bars... "Hi, I'm a med student."

No jk. I think medicine has its hard times and most don't realize it going in (including myself). Every year poses a bigger and bigger challenge. I know there was a documentary once on PBS that was about a doctor and his life through med school and residency, I wish I could see that.

It just seems so odd that after all this crap... undergrad work, grad work, MCAT, hunting for that perfect letter of recommendation, the pats on the back with each interview trip... life (or something resembling it) is going to start this year. I really felt shocked in HOG when Berry equates a would-be physician to an all-star in a game... does he leave the game? No! He can't... he wasn't programmed to stay. I think most who go to med school are programmed to go through challenge by challenge until we die. After all, what is the ultimate challenges that we're facing today? Universal coverage of healthcare... and such a simple answer, too. Who's going to hit the home run on that one? Howard Dean was close. Who's up to bat?

I just feel like it's a long hard road for us to get to the point where we are just trying to make the sick feel better... all just to get into 250K++ debt and work 80 hours per week for minimum wage. LOL... damn now I'm depressing myself. This book's made me question my motivation to go into medicine... all to do what? Man I need to hear some positive words from recent grads..... who here LOVES being a doctor? Raise your hand...

 

[EMBess]

Hmmm, like the thread above a lot of nurses at university hospitals do have a serious case of "office a$$* from avoiding work all the time, but many do not. Be careful about generalities; many of them work there because they like the dynamic and like to learn/are good at what they do. You have your fair share of those who like to make other people feel small and use med students for that. Oh, and of course guys be careful of the "Dr. Hunters" - those who work at a university hospital because catching a med student or resident to marry is easier than a community hospital attending. There's bound to be a few of them, too.

HOG is a riot. I agree that the rules are mostly true - "turfing" is an important skill as much as I've seen working in the hospital. The thing that the book did for me was to point out how important a sense of humor is - fat man made up the rules and he was fine. I see interns all around the hospital now griping that they are working so hard, then you have to think...do they realize they're actually at least getting paid to do scut, rather than have to pay for the priveledge? It would help these types to remember that the work has to get done one way or another, and they might as well learn something and be a pleasant person along the way.

 

[Seaglass]

...do they realize they're actually at least getting paid to do scut,

Actually, they've already paid - just like you.

 

[Satelite]

HOG has some interesting parts but for the most part is pretty tasteless. Sure it gets some things right but it really isn't worth your time to load that much cynicism into your mind. Cynicism is a cancer and you and those around you just don't need it. You will get out of your residency experience what you put into it and a cynical attitude will kill you. A better read, with more real insight and more reality, is something like "Becoming a Doctor" by Melvin Konner.

 

[futuremsfdoc]

i agree with those who said it's way too cynical. it's a funny book, but maybe not the best read for someone just starting their career. it just about made me consider avoiding internal medicine and going into psychiatry, but that would be crazy.

there are definitely some funny parts to it.

oh, and i almost got it confused with this awesome movie i just saw...city of god. sooo violent though.

 

[iliacus]

All I know is that if I was Berry from HOG, I wouldn't put up with that lying, cheating bastard. I'd kick his sleezy whinning butt to the curb and even if he tried to give me a huge purple diamond like the one Kobe gave Vanessa, I'd slam the door in his face! Right after I accept the diamond as a gift of course.

Ahhh yes, and MEN are such bastards 🙄

 

[FosterChild]

HOG has some interesting parts but for the most part is pretty tasteless. Sure it gets some things right but it really isn't worth your time to load that much cynicism into your mind. Cynicism is a cancer and you and those around you just don't need it. You will get out of your residency experience what you put into it and a cynical attitude will kill you. A better read, with more real insight and more reality, is something like "Becoming a Doctor" by Melvin Konner.

Konner didn't want to be a doctor. He just wanted to further his anthropology career. Which he did by writing that book.

And anyone who becomes cynical about modern medicine from reading a nearly 30 year-old book needs to seriously get out of the classroom and get out working/experiencing.

When I read HOG, I was in a FP clinic seeing poly-pharmacy patients all day and must say the book ticked me off so much I had to stop reading for a few weeks. But because the protagonist was so unwilling to see past his current scenario. Internship is ONE YEAR. It sucks, sure. But so did MS1. And MS2. Etc. But when you finally get out of training and into the DOING, it will all be better! (I pray.)

DAVE

 

[banner]

Sorry Dave,

It does not get better. You only get more responsibility as an attending. You'll see.

 

[MechE]

I just started the book and so far think it's pretty good.

"...and by the power invested in me by the state, I pronounce you dead." - Potts

 

[doc05]

the book is not "pretty good." it is freaking awesome.

 

[lattimer13]

anyone read the follow-up, Mount Misery? i didn't like it too much.