Review of Death by Doses

[Bertha Jackson]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Death by Doses" by Lynn Ronsen.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Perinne Anderson is asked by Rudy Markman, CEO of the Safe Trust Insurance Company, to do an investigation after several suspicious deaths occur with high insurance payouts. Although each of the deceased individuals had been terminally ill with painful diseases, they all had a few months to live, and all were receiving treatment at the Specialty Care Unit of Rathburn Clinic and Hospital. Perinne becomes even more suspicious that the deaths are the result of doctor-assisted suicide after more deaths occur, and she discovers that the doctors all have financial trouble due to poor investments, spending habits, gambling debts, tuition expenses, or pending lawsuits. Could one of these doctors be Doctor Death? Or is it someone else who thinks they are providing a needed service to these terminally ill patients? Why were Perinne and Rudy suspicious about the deaths?

My favorite aspect of Death by Dose by Lynn Ronsen, RN, is the detail the author provides. The historical information, along with details about Alcoholics Anonymous and its steps, different diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Lou Gehrig's, the Doctors Without Borders program, and medical equipment, provides a clear picture of all the events and characters in the storyline. Baby, a white Lhasa Apso, is my favorite character because of her antics and bravery. It is easy to visualize her in her little rain jacket. There are multiple medical ethical concepts in this storyline that are thought-provoking. For example, is death a personal matter or something to be dictated by legislation? I had to ask myself, if I were in a vegetative state or in a lot of pain that cannot be controlled, would I want the government deciding my fate? I like how the author pulled at my heartstrings with each of the patients' realistic stories. The debate about patients' rights and assisted suicide, and the legality of it, is thoroughly discussed from both sides.

Unfortunately, I am unable to give this book a perfect score because of the lack of professional editing. My rating of 4 out of 5 stars is justified because of the positive aspects discussed above, my reading enjoyment, and the many ethical and moral lessons it offers. Other than the number of errors in this book, it has no other objective negative aspects.

Anyone who has ever watched a loved one die a slow and painful death while begging to die may find this storyline upsetting. However, if you are a mature Christian who enjoys medical crime mysteries combined with romance, I recommend you read this book. Some of the characters are Catholics, some have faith in God and His powers, and there is a prayer, which may be offensive to non-religious readers. I caution sensitive readers that this book contains some graphic content and non-borderline profanity that may be offensive to them.

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Death by Doses
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[Kibet Hillary]

The debate on whether one could allow the government to decide their fate sounds really interesting and definitely great food for thought. I am sure that this and many more of such issues in the book will enable the reader to ponder on the far-reaching consequences of such actions. Thanks for the review, @Bertha Jackson.