Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery
Henry Marsh
Published 2014.
Summary
Henry Marsh, a senior neurosurgeon, reflects candidly on decades of operating on the brain. Each chapter centres on a case, and many are about uncertainty and failure: operations that went wrong, decisions he regrets, and the difficulty of knowing when not to operate. He writes about the arrogance surgery can breed and the humility that mistakes force on him, about the emotional distance doctors create to cope, and about the difficulty of telling patients and families honest news. He is also openly critical of bureaucracy and management in the NHS as he experienced it. The book's power lies in his willingness to admit error and doubt, showing that good doctors are not those who never make mistakes but those who learn from them and are honest about them.
Why it matters at interview
An honest account of error, uncertainty and responsibility — perfect for questions on mistakes, humility and the emotional side of medicine.
Key takeaways
- Uncertainty and error are part of medicine; honesty about them is essential.
- Knowing when not to intervene is a clinical skill.
- Doctors balance emotional detachment with compassion.
- Personal accounts reflect one perspective and one era.
How to use it
Refer to it for 'tell me about a mistake' or duty of candour discussions: good doctors are honest about uncertainty and learn from error.