| Straightjacket | | | | her mother, a whacked-out loon with Mob |
| Richard E. Sall | | | | connections, threatens to have him offed if he |
| BookSurge (2006) | | | | doesn't stay away from her daughter. Another is |
| ISBN 1419630547 | | | | discovering the reason for a patient's mysterious |
| Reviewed by Joanne Benham for Reader Views | | | | death. Is it linked to another death in the hospital, |
| (5/06) | | | | which could mean they have a serial killer loose? |
| When Dr. Joe Grady refused to write a | | | | His biggest struggle is with the hospital |
| prescription for painkilling drugs for Trick Edwards, | | | | administration as they ruthlessly slash costs, firing |
| Mr. Edwards called the hospital administrator and | | | | nurses and technicians and replacing them with |
| threatened to go to the media. Joe is called on | | | | poorly trained and under-supervised drones, who |
| the carpet to explain why he denied care to a | | | | will work for much less money. |
| patient, especially one who threatened to | | | | I truly enjoyed this book. The characters are |
| jeopardize funding on the fifty-million dollar | | | | well-developed, the dialog is crisp and not too |
| expansion planned for Detroit General Hospital. | | | | crowded with doctor-speak. I can't even |
| Displeased with Joe's reasoning, the administrator | | | | remember how many times I found myself |
| decides to punish him by making him complete his | | | | laughing out loud, especially when reading about |
| residency in 30 days. In order to reach that goal, | | | | Linda's mother, truly the mother-in-law from hell. |
| Joe must complete ten major cases during that | | | | There is also an underlying message in this book, |
| time. So the race is on. | | | | as it details just what happens when hospitals |
| As Joe struggles to find, and finish, his ten cases, | | | | start worrying more about the financial bottom |
| he is also engaged in other struggles. One of them | | | | line than their patients. |
| is to persuade Linda to marry him, even though | | | | |