The life of a doctor is both intriguing and awe-inspiring. Long shifts, grueling hours, and, most importantly, caring for the sick or injured is no easy task. It’s a profession that demands dedication and an iron will to complete each day successfully. The Long White Coat by acclaimed author and respected physician C. Robert Pettit portrays just that in a most authentic and raw form.

THOSE WHO HAVE SWORN THE OATH

In The Long White Coat, readers are treated to a busy hospital emergency room where a team of dedicated medical professionals must deal with the most gruesome cases enough to make anyone squeamish. However, these cases are dealt with professionally and with the care one expects. The story is told from the perspective of Doctor Lewis Merritt, a kind and caring soul who wants to make a difference. Lewis’s day revolves around making tough decisions, dealing with harsh criticism, and pursuing his other passions, something every young person can relate to. 

FRIENDSHIP AND TEAMWORK

Lewis is not alone in this journey. Accompanying him is a wide range of characters, all unique in their ways. From the seasoned veteran Dr. Chuck Peyronie bringing a wealth of experience to the young student Marcus, still jovial and naive, each character is fleshed out and provides a unique take in the story and the medical proas well. Through his interactions, readers are given a window into how those who have committed their lives to the betterment of humanity think and feel. Each member of the E.R. team supports the other when there are plenty of highs and lows, and the team works and acts like a family to get by the most demanding days. 

WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT

Healthcare is not an easy job. It is established from the start that tough decisions and quick thinking will need to be made to save lives. With years of experience and having seen it all, Robert brilliantly writes from what he has seen, offering the reader the many ethical dilemmas that must come into question when treating a patient. In one particular instance, the attendant, Dr. Sylvia Stoole, gets into a heated argument with the doctors over a controversial treatment needed on one of the patients, which begs the question of how far you go to save someone’s life. The Long White Coat is filled with these questions and provides much-needed commentary into a field that has become more corporatized in recent years.

THERE’S PLENTY MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

The book is not all medical drama; it has enough for even the most casual readers to love it. Doctor Lewis is tangled in a love triangle that has him completely split, and readers eagerly anticipate who he will choose. There is also a mysterious killer on the loose, with the entire hospital on high alert and the reader on the edge of their seats. All these elements combine to create a story that will keep the reader completely hooked until the end.

The Long White Coat promises many things and delivers even more. It is a wonderful book exploring the human condition, and it dares to ask some tough questions. Combining medical drama with mystery and romance is no easy task, but Robert Pettit does a fantastic job. With well-thought-out characters and an intriguing story, it guarantees a reading experience unlike any other.

The Long White Coat is available on Amazon and other digital platforms and bookstores, so grab your copy before stocks run out.

Author Information

1. Robert Pettit, M.D is an ear, nose, & throat surgeon living in Carmel, California. With an undergraduate degree from Stanford University, and an M.D. from U.C. Irvine, his ENT residency training was at U.C. San Francisco School of Medicine where he later taught students as a member of the clinical faculty. As a pioneer in cochlear implant research, he was present and assisted in the birth of that amazing treatment for total deafness. His next book, “So that All Might Hear”, documents that experience.

An award-winning film producer and director, Dr. Pettit has also spent many years as a professional ceramist.

You can learn more about him and his work at: 

The Long White Coat