I Will Need to Break Your Other Leg: Tales of Medical Adventure and Misadventure

"The title was intriguing, and the stories justified my curiosity. These are often funny, sometimes heart-breaking and nearly every one of them is an adventure. Many are set in his native Nepal and some in England and others in Scotland. The author's note says the episodes in the book are based on real events, and they certainly feel very lively and real. They gave me an insight into the life of a remarkable doctor.
Through Dr. Gautam's eyes we see a rainbow of feelings and emotions of a wide cross section of humanity. The author is modest in describing his many achievements as physician and surgeon. Working in the remote regions of Nepal meant doing operations without the right tools or medicines, in an atmosphere of tyranny. As a Geriatrician in the UK, equipment and supplies were not the issue but the loneliness of his elderly patients was a different kind of challenge. Dr. Gautam deals with all this with ingenuity and empathy, keeping the patient's interest above everything else. He appears to have practiced medicine holistically, dealing not just with the physical problems and symptoms of his patients but also with their emotional and cultural difficulties.
One thing that amazed me was the relatively liberal life style in Nepal in the 60's and 70's, probably well before the western world acknowledged it in their own cultures.
There are 20+ relatively short stories; it is hard to put the book down and at the end you want some more! It is a great read!"
~ Written on 2008-06-08

"This book contains twenty six thought provoking recollected stories collated over thirty five years of medical practice. They span from Dr Gautam's early years as a medical student and trainee doctor in India, his return to his native Nepal and then his onward journey to the United Kingdom to further his professional career.

On completion of his post graduate training he obtained the post of consultant physician in geriatric medicine and his family adopted the United Kingdom as their homeland. He recalls incidences that impacted on his personal and professional life and highlights the influence of cultural differences on society. The lack of amenities and facilities in India and Nepal, and issues related to loneliness, bereavement and ageism in the United Kingdom. Each story has an inner depth often ending in a totally unexpected outcome. He gives some insight into some of his unique doctor patient relationships, highlighting the importance of integrity and ingenuity when dealing with difficult issues. He carries the reader effortlessly through his problem solving matrix, always aware of the social, political and cultural context of its presentation. Experience has thought him that medicine is often more an art than a science and that a patient's own life circumstance can be an integral part of a problem and the solution, especially in old age.

I do not normally write book reviews but after reading this though provoking book I felt compelled to put pen to paper. I do not think the title does it justice. When the book was recommended as a good read by a friend I obtained a copy and then could not put it down.

It is indeed a good read, not only for people with a medical background but for the wider public. It touches on so many aspects of Dr Gautam's thirty-five years of professional life, its peaks and troughs, but he never despaired, always adhering to his beliefs, such is the beauty and challenges of medicine.

I do not feel he is a man that can now rest and I for one look forward to another adventure perhaps this time related to his homeland Nepal, now that it has shed its monarchy....who knows?
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~ Written on 2008-06-07

"Twenty six real life stories beautifully told. Stories set in different continents at different times that many of us can relate to."
~ Written on 2008-05-24

"This collection of tales from the author's medical career in Nepal and the UK is an engaging and entertaining read. The stories, ranging from an armed seige of a medical centre to sexual misadventure in Nepalese high society, are insightful and told with humour and considerable warmth.

As an advocate of holistic medicine, Dr Gautam's book is mainly concerned with patients and how they have affected and facilitated his own development in the medical profession. He also illustrates the background against which his career has developed over the years. He cites the impact of monarchical Nepal and governmental corruption whilst relating a clash between medical ethics and the safety of his family. He also reflects on the impact of Thatcherism on the elderly and infirm whilst discussing his days as a Consultant Geriatrician in Aberdeen. The anecdotes are always thought-provoking but the focus is always on the patients as oppose to the politics, a theme that has evidently characterised Dr Gautam's career.

The book is emminently readable and this recommendation is not confined to those with a medical background. Having no medical knowledge myself, outside of my own malladies and hypochondria, I very much enjoyed the read and finished it in only a few days. A refreshing and surprising read that is always interesting and often affecting, definitely worth a look."
~ Written on 2008-05-23

"Dr Gautam's book relates contrasting tales, all based on true events, of medical life in rural Nepal and the UK. It is a delightful book, irrespective of whether the reader has a medical background, and is both entertaining and thought-provoking. His stories demonstrate what can be achieved, even in difficult circumstances, with a combination of compassion, skill, ingenuity, humour and a genuine care for patients. Well worth reading!"
~ Written on 2008-05-16