Better: A Surgeon’s Notes on Performance

One of Atul Gawande’s goals in Better is to humanize both doctors and the medical profession. How does he do this? Give specific examples from the text that highlight the “human factor” that is inherent in medicine.

Innovation is a key to success in any industry, and the medical profession is no exception. However, innovation is often met with skepticism in medicine, at least at first. Why do you think this happens? What are some examples from the text that demonstrate how difficult it is to enact change in the medical profession?

According to Gawande, what are the main characteristics of a good doctor? Why does he believe these things are necessary to practice medicine well?