Caroline Elton Libros

A psychologist's stories of doctors who seek to help others but struggle to help themselves From ER and M*A*S*H to Grey's Anatomy and House, the medical drama endures for good reason: we're fascinated by the people we must trust when we are most vulnerable. In Also Human, vocational psychologist Caroline Elton introduces us to some of the distressed physicians who have come to her for help: doctors who face psychological challenges that threaten to destroy their careers and lives, including an obstetrician grappling with his own homosexuality, a high-achieving junior doctor who walks out of her first job within weeks of starting, and an oncology resident who faints when confronted with cancer patients. Entering a doctor's office can be terrifying, sometimes for the doctor most of all. By examining the inner lives of these professionals, Also Human offers readers insight into, and empathy for, the very real struggles of those who hold power over life and death.

Read it and weep.' SUSIE ORBACH'Haunting, beautiful and urgent.' JOHANN HARI'At the heart of this book is the problem of how emotional resilience can be identified in prospective doctors and strengthened in practising doctors.

The narrative centers on Lionel, Caroline's older brother, who navigated life with autism during a time when understanding and support were virtually nonexistent. Born in the 1950s, Lionel's extraordinary abilities, such as perfect pitch and quick mental calculations, contrasted sharply with societal attitudes towards autistic individuals. Caroline's account explores Lionel's life journey, highlighting the progress in autism awareness over the decades while also addressing ongoing disparities in care and support for neurodivergent individuals, especially in end-of-life scenarios.