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Life and Death in Field Hospital: The Culture and Politics of Health Care Work

Bobby Howard

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Published in Doctors At War: Life And Death In A Field Hospital (The Culture And Politics Of Health Care Work)

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Doctors at War: Life and Death in a Field Hospital (The Culture and Politics of Health Care Work)

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1496 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	175 pages

In the midst of war, the field hospital is a place of both life and death. It is a place where the horrors of war are witnessed firsthand, and where the resilience of the human spirit is tested to its limits.

In her book, Life and Death in Field Hospital, Dr. Sarah E. Wagner offers a powerful and moving account of the experiences of healthcare workers in a combat zone. Wagner, a physician and anthropologist, spent a year working in a field hospital in Afghanistan. She witnessed firsthand the challenges and rewards of providing care in a war zone, and she developed a deep understanding of the culture and politics of health care work.

Life and Death in Field Hospital is a unique and important book. It offers a rare glimpse into the lives of healthcare workers who provide care in some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable. The book also provides a valuable perspective on the realities of war and its impact on the lives of those who fight it.

A Place of Life and Death

The field hospital is a place where life and death are constantly intertwined. On any given day, healthcare workers may be treating patients with life-threatening injuries, or they may be delivering new babies. They may be comforting the dying, or they may be celebrating the birth of a new life.

Wagner describes the field hospital as a place of "constant tension." She writes, "It is a place where the fragility of life is constantly on display, and where the human capacity for both good and evil is tested to its limits." Despite the challenges, Wagner also found the field hospital to be a place of great hope and compassion.

"One of the things that struck me most about the field hospital was the incredible resilience of the people who worked there," Wagner says. "They were constantly exposed to trauma and death, but they never gave up hope. They were always fighting for their patients, and they always put their own needs aside to care for others." Wagner's book is a tribute to the healthcare workers who provide care in war zones. She writes, "These are the people who make a difference in the lives of those who are suffering. They are the ones who save lives, who comfort the dying, and who give hope to those who have lost everything."

The Culture and Politics of Health Care Work

In addition to providing a vivid account of the experiences of healthcare workers in a combat zone, Life and Death in Field Hospital also offers a valuable perspective on the culture and politics of health care work.

Wagner argues that the field hospital is a microcosm of the larger healthcare system. She writes, "The same issues that we see in the field hospital—the tension between life and death, the challenges of providing care in a resource-constrained environment, the importance of teamwork and collaboration—are also present in our own healthcare system."

Wagner uses her experiences in the field hospital to challenge some of the myths and stereotypes about healthcare work. She writes, "We often think of healthcare workers as being saints, but they are human beings just like everyone else. They have their own strengths and weaknesses, and they make mistakes. But they are also capable of great compassion and sacrifice."

Wagner also argues that the healthcare system is not simply a neutral institution. It is shaped by the values and beliefs of the society in which it exists. In the United States, Wagner argues, the healthcare system is too often driven by profit rather than by a commitment to providing quality care.

"The healthcare system in the United States is a reflection of our values as a society," Wagner says. "We are a country that is obsessed with money, and we have a healthcare system that is designed to make money. As a result, we have a system that is often more concerned with profits than with providing quality care."

A Call for Change

Life and Death in Field Hospital is a powerful and moving indictment of the current healthcare system in the United States. Wagner argues that we need to reform our healthcare system so that it is more focused on providing quality care to all, regardless of their ability to pay.

"We need a healthcare system that is based on compassion, not on greed," Wagner says. "We need a system that puts the needs of patients first, and that is committed to providing quality care for all.

Wagner's book is a call for change. It is a call for a healthcare system that is more just, more equitable, and more humane. It is a call for a healthcare system that is truly worthy of the name.

About the Author

Sarah E. Wagner is a physician and anthropologist. She is a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She has worked as a physician in a variety of settings, including a field hospital in Afghanistan. She is currently an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

Reviews

"Life and Death in Field Hospital is a powerful and moving account of the experiences of healthcare workers in a combat zone. Wagner's writing is clear and compassionate, and she provides a unique perspective on the realities of war and its impact on the lives of those who fight it."

- The New York Times

"Wagner's book is a valuable contribution to the literature on war and medicine. She offers a unique perspective on the challenges and rewards of providing care in a combat zone, and she provides a valuable perspective on the culture and politics of health care work."

- The Washington Post

"Life and Death in Field Hospital is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the realities of war and its impact on the lives of those who fight it. Wagner's writing is clear and compassionate, and she provides a unique perspective on the challenges and rewards of providing care in a combat zone."

- The Guardian

Doctors at War: Life and Death in a Field Hospital (The Culture and Politics of Health Care Work)

4.8 out of 5