Natural Causes

This novel by Michael Palmer is a medico-legal thriller.

The story revolves around Dr. Sarah Baldwin, who is a resident Doctor at the Medical Centre of Boston. Before becoming a doctor Sarah was a practitioner of Holistic healing which included alternative therapies such as acupuncture and ayurvedic and herbal medicines. She had obtained her training in holistic medicine and acupuncture under an oriental master at Thailand. From there she came to Boston and started working with Peter Ettinger a leading Alternative and Holistic medical practitioner. But after three years with him she became disillusioned and she decided to study medicine and become a doctor and practice medicine. She was convinced that an MD in medicine coupled with her experience in holistic medicine would prove to be a boon to her patients who would get best of both the worlds.

But Sarah’s life turns topsy turvy when three of her patients, taking her herbal supplements develop complications. Two of these patients die due to excessive bleeding and also lose their unborn children. The third one named Lisa (the daughter of a Multi millionaire) due to excessive bleeding loses her hand and also her child.

This is when all hell breaks lose. Lisa’s father sues Sarah for malpractice. Michael Palmer is a gifted story teller and he brings out the medical and legal aspects very cleverly in weaving a very interesting and page turning novel in the class of a Robin Cook.