Review: Completely unrealistic portrayal of reality for the sake of a good story turned me off
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 02 23, 2014
This is true literary fiction: beautiful prose and a focus on the internal life of the main character. However, I could not finish it. I actually stopped quite early in the book because I was really offended by some of the content. A man passes out during a meal with two doctors, who later find out (in so many violations of HIPPA) that the man has AIDS. In short, they freak out and are screaming and accusing the man's Godmother for not telling them their guest had AIDS (since that's their right to know?). As doctors, these people should know full well how HIV is transmitted, and if there had been bodily fluids "loose" during his passing out, I imagine the Godmother would have brought it up. And even if not, as doctors, they know better than anyone how to properly care for themselves during someone else's medical emergency. Overall, the descriptions of the doctors strikes me as both illegal and totally unrelated to reality, as well as being bigoted fearmongering about people with HIV. In another case briefly mentioned (to be expanded later, I'm sure) would any hospital allow a husband to accompany his wife to the ER and then continue to treat her as she lays dying? No f-ing way. It makes a good story, but every hospital would forcibly remove a doctor who will undoubtedly be compromised by his emotions.It ruined my trust in the author to tell an authentic story, and I couldn't keep reading.