This Friday I’m honored to bring you a new novel from Richard L. Mabry, MD. I read Guarded Prognosis before it came out and could hardly wait to tell you about it! Here’s the back cover copy:
DOUBLE-BARRELED TROUBLE
When Dr. Caden Taggart saw the two men sitting in his waiting room, he didn’t think they were patients. He was right, and when they introduced themselves as agents of the Drug Enforcement Agency, things started to get bad.
Then Caden felt as though someone had gut-punched him when his father, Dr. Henry Taggart, told him he probably had carcinoma of the pancreas. When he talked about his son assisting with his suicide, Caden wondered how he could talk him out of that.
When he shared his news with his wife, Beth, she tried to assure Caden that God was in control. But as things progressed, he was unsure that was true. At first, he feared for his freedom. Then for his ability to cope. Eventually, he feared for his life.
My take on Guarded Prognosis:
Guarded Prognosis, was released July 17, and as always, Richard Mabry has written a book that drew me in on the first page. When the story opens, drug enforcement agents are sitting in Dr. Caden Taggart’s office, waiting to question him about opioid prescriptions he’s written. Prescriptions he insists he never wrote. And if that isn’t bad enough Caden soon learns his father probably has pancreatic cancer and wants Caden to help him commit suicide when the pain gets too much.
Richard Mabry weaves an intriguing plot together using two stubborn men, both doctors, who must navigate the emotional issues neither want to discuss. Then Caden finds his life is in danger when he becomes the target of whoever is writing the fake prescriptions.
This is an intriguing story with plenty of plot twists to keep the most avid mystery reader guessing. He has created realistic characters that make the reader root for a victory. Guarded Prognosis is a book the reader will find hard to put down. I stayed up way too late to get to the end!
You can purchase Guarded Prognosis on Amazon.
I was intrigued with one of the questions Richard brought up in the story. When Caden’s dad, who is a doctor, was diagnosed with possible pancreatic cancer, he asked his son a very hard question – would he help him commit suicide when the pain became unbearable. I’m not asking if you think this is right or wrong, but how you think Caden felt about the request. Leave a comment and I’ll enter you in a drawing for an ARC copy of Guarded Prognosis!
[tweet_box design=”default” float=”none”]Dr. Richard Mabry has released another great medical mystery! Check it out here, and maybe win a copy of Guarded Prognosis! #bookgiveaway[/tweet_box]
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Comments 46
I would think any person asked to assist in a suicide, particularly of someone you live would be highly conflicted. You don’t want to see them suffer, but you don’t want to be responsible for shortening their time either. Personally, I think all life and death decisions should be left in the hands of the one who created both life and death.
Author
Good answer Linda. I appreciated the way Richard handled this in the book. He’s a talented writer! Thanks for stopping by.
That’s a tough question. As a physician myself, I’m not sure what I would do if one of my parents asked that of me. I’m sure Caden was feeling shock, anger, resentment, guilt, and even some confusion as he processed his father’s request.
Author
I think that would be a very difficult situation to deal with, Mindy. Thanks for stopping by.
I love Dr. Mabry’s books and have read them all so far, I think. My opinion is that it would be very hard for Caden, who is a doctor himself, to assist anyone with suicide, much less his own father. One of the first premises of the Hippocratic Oath is “First, do no harm.” So, I think Caden’s conscience would bother him, regardless. He may have felt honored in some way that his father would trust him with such an action, but I also think he would feel overwhelmed…with love for his father and sadness for the fact that he is dying.
Author
So agree, Vickie! Great answer. Thanks for stopping by.
I’m the mother of two sons who are doctors and encourage them to write some scenarios, too. I appreciate that Dr. Mabry has worked hard and gotten his into print.
Author
They really should, Delores. Thanks for stopping by.
I think he would have very mixed feelings. On one hand you don’t want to see your parent suffer, as they are your first love in life and on the other hand you know that life is precious and a gift from God and can only be taken when He says so.
Author
It was definitely a hard question for Caden to process. Thanks for stopping by, Lucy!
I think Caden would be very conflicted about that request wanting to relieve the pain and yet knowing the ethical and moral issues regarding that request. I enjoy Dr Mabry’s books and am looking forward to reading this one!
Author
I love Dr. Mabrys’s books, too, Anne! Can’t wait for the next one. Thanks for stopping by.
Even if Caden and his dad disagreed about physician-assisted suicide, Caden may have felt honored that his dad could trust him with this personal request.
Author
I think you’re right, Priscilla. Thanks for stopping by.
I imagine that Caden would have felt compassion for his father’s situation, but as a doctor and citizen with a great sense of right and wrong, he would have been terrified by the request to help his father commit suicide.
Author
Suzanne, I think the situation was made even harder because Caden and his dad didn’t have that great a relationship. Thanks for dropping by!
I was put in that position myself when a dear friend asked another physician and me about helping him put an end to the pain of advanced prostatic carcinoma. That premise is one of the main ones in Guarded Prognosis. As you read the book, perhaps your initial feelings will change…or not. Shall we honor our parent or refrain from murder?
Author
Somehow I thought you might have experienced this with a patient or friend when I read it, Richard. You handled it so well in the book. And that’s a great question: Shall we honor our parent or refrain from murder? Thanks for dropping in!
I couldn’t even imagine someone I loved asking me to help them commit suicide. I would just be in shock at first, then probably upset.
Author
I agree, Victoria. It would be a difficult situation to respond to. Thanks for stopping by!
Tough decision….so I will just say I love Richard’s books and have read them all! Don’t count me in for your drawing. I can’t wait for his next book!
Author
Okay, Jackie, and I’m like you–I can’t wait until the next one. We need to tell him to get to writing instead of playing golf! 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
Dr. Marbry writes thought provoking books! I’m looking forward to reading this latest book!
Author
He does, doesn’t he, MS Barb! I always look forward to Richard’s books. Thanks for stopping by!
I can’t imagine how one would deal with the conflicting emotional thoughts to consider. It sounds like an interesting book.
Author
It is a very interesting book, Gloria. I think you would really enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by!
I think he would be heart-broken as a believer that his dad would even ask/contemplate that, but also shocked that he would ask a doctor to take part. It would be very hard to watch a parent…or any loved one…suffer, but I don’t think I could help them end it. That should be in God’s time.
Author
I totally agree, Suzanne. A situation like this is hard all the way around. Insightful thoughts. Thanks for stopping by!
I think Caden would feel conflicted, heatbroken and riddled with grief. If I was in this position, I’m not sure I could go through with it. Knowing life and death is in the hands of God who is the giver and taker. I’m sure I would feel a myriad of deep emotions all at once. I couldn’t promise anything I wouldn’t be able to follow through on. What a position to be in!
I love Mabry’s books! Medical thrillers are my top choice for suspense books, it just adds an extra layer of tension for me 🙂 Thanks for your thoughts on this one, it’s been on my radar since before it came out!
Author
Dr. Mabry writes really good medical thrillers! Trixi, I’ve enjoyed every one of his books. Thanks for stopping by!
I also read this book before it was released. I believe Caden was “floored” by his father’s request. As I recall, their relationship had been difficult before any of this happened. I think that would make such a request so much more difficult to handle. If you have felt yourself at odds with someone for a long time and even had momentary thoughts of doing them bodily harm because of the frustration, I can’t imagine all the thoughts a request like this would bring to the surface. Guarded Prognosis is such a wonderful story.
Author
Good points, Edward! I hadn’t even thought about that. But you’re right–their relationship hadn’t been that good. Thanks for stopping by!
I really don’t know how to answer that question. I suppose I hope I never come to that bridge, so I don’t have to choose if I want to cross it. I believe I would be supportive in the situation, but I don’t think I could help anyone end their own life.
Thanks for the opportunity to win an ARCof Dr. Mabry’s latest book. I have not had the chance to read it, and have thoroughly enjoyed all the other books I have read that he has written.
Author
I so agree that he has great books, Betti! I always look forward to reading his stories. Thanks for stopping by!
I think he would be torn. But I hope he would take the oath he made as a doctor seriously, as well as the precepts he should uphold as a Christian. I would do what I could to alleviate the pain. As long as it was legal and moral.
Author
Absolutely, Paula. It’s a hard choice, though, no matter how you look at it. Thanks for stopping by!
It would be very hard to help someone you love commit suicide especially if you were a doctor or nurse
Author
I so agree, Shelia! I can’t even imagine it. Thanks for stopping by.
He must have felt very torn between honoring his dad and respecting him and what he felt in his heart was the right thing to do. How could you help kill your own dad? Boy that’s a hard one.
Author
Yes, it is, Faith. Richard handled it very well! Thanks for stopping by!
I cannot imagine my Dad or Mom asking me to do this for them. If they did ask me, I would have to tell them, I’m sorry, but I cannot and will not do this.
Author
I can’t imagine it either, Janet. It would be heartbreaking to see a loved one suffer, but I couldn’t do it either. Thanks for stopping by.
I am another reader who has read and enjoyed all of Dr. Mabry’s books. I think a doctor and a Christian would feel compassion for the sufferer but have to choose life rather than death. I would think a morphine drip or some other treatment could perhaps minimize the pain enough until a natural death occurred. It’s a tough situation requiring a lot of prayer but I think we need to say no to taking life.
Author
I agree, Christine. Sometimes I think morphine hastens a death, but a person in pain should be kept comfortable. Thanks for dropping by!
I think he would feel conflicted, maybe angry. Difficult though it may be, I believe the choice should be left to God with everyone humanly possible being done to help the person suffering without taking their life.
Author
So agree, Diane. Thanks so much for stopping by.