Author Question: The ER Doc and the EarthQuake

Patrick Asks:In my novel, I have an ER doc on vacation with his family. An earthquake strikes. His 14 y/o son suffers grievous injuries (I'm thinking a concrete pillar falls across his midsection.) The doc knows that in the best of situations, in an equipped trauma center, he'd only have a slim chance of saving his son's life. As it is all he can do is try to comfort his son and be with him as he dies.So my questions are threefold:1.  What would...

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Up and Coming

WOW! Is this summer zipping by for everyone else as fast as it is for me?Hopefully, everyone is finding some time to enjoy the super HOT weather. Yikes!For you this week:Monday: Author Question: The ER Doctor and the Earthquake.Wednesday: What exactly makes a novel a medical thriller?Friday: Why McDreamy of Grey's Anatomy is the worst neurosurgeon ever!!Hope these posts provide you some knowledge and entertainment.Jor...

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Hypothermia or Death by Drowning? The Titanic.

I'm so pleased to host Paula Moldenhauer today at Redwood's Medical Edge. It was 100 years ago that the Titanic sunk and there is still speculation on many fronts. Cause of death of the victims in the water reamains one of them.What do you think--did those victims die from hypothermia or did they drown?Welcome Paula!“For forty-five minutes the eerie, distressed cries reached across the frosty depths, tugging at our very souls. Their words were unintelligible...

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Author Question: Bleeding to Death

S.W. asks: This is the scenario: A woman has given birth attended only by her partner. After an exhausting long labor, the birth goes reasonably well, but a couple of hours later, she hemorrhages. My question is, would it be possible for her to bleed to death while sleeping? My plot needs her partner to be in the same room, under the influence of alcohol or drugs which he takes to 'celebrate' after the birth. I need him to not realize what's...

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The Psychology of the Serial Killer

I'm so pleased to host Nelda Copas today as she guest blogs about the psychology of the serial killer. I found this information fascinating.Welcome to Redwood's Medical Edge, Nelda!Serial Killers are a fairly recent phenomenon. The public is fascinated by their crimes. The prevalence of serial murder in this county is yet unknown. There have been estimates that there are 20-50 working in this country at any given time. The terms most often used to...

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Up and Coming

Hey Redwood's Fans!How's the summer going? What types of fun activities have you been up to?This week for you...Monday: Nelda Copas shares a fascinating post on serial killers. Wednesday: Author Question. You know I love these! This one deals with bleeding to death. Always important for those manuscript details.Friday: Author Paula Moldenhauer shares a post on the Titanic victims. What about you? Do you think they died from hypothermia or drowning? This is an excellent post that talks about the two competing theories.Jor...

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A Scoliosis Journey: Dianna Benson

If you want your character to struggle with a disease starting in childhood and worsening in adulthood, scoliosis may be the right one to choose to create long-term drama and conflict. At age nine my daughter was diagnosed with scoliosis with a twenty degree double curvature; meaning, her spine was S-shaped due to a thoracic curve and a lumbar curve jutted in opposite directions. For a year she only had x-rays every few months to...

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Embryo: J.A. Schneider

I'm pleased to host Joyce Schneider as she discusses the medical plot elements of her medical thriller Embryo.Welcome, Joyce!Embryo’s plot: An intern is determined to investigate tragedies at a famous fertility & genetic engineering hospital. My husband, a physician of endless patience, helped with the medical details, which I interwove into this story idea that nagged and wouldn’t let go. Details: “Maria Moran’s first inkling of trouble was...

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Treatment of Infected Wounds

This post is in direct response to a question from Sue Harrison about taking care of infected wounds. What exactly is the treatment protocol.Treatment of infected skin wounds is usually one of the easiest things we can do from a medical perspective. Unless it's a superbug which is another concern entirely-- but we'll keep it simple for this post. Here's a short list of the treatment protocol.1. Keep the wound from getting infected.  This boils...

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Up and Coming

Hello Redwood's Fans!How's your week been?Mine...oohhh... very nice from an author's standpoint. Just got the final cover from my publisher, Kregel, for the #2 book cover in the bloodline trilogy, Poison. Can't wait to give you a preview soon!For you this week:Monday: For my friend, Sue H., Treatment of Infected Wounds. I know, seems a strange gift to give to a friend. But, it really does show how much I love her.Wednesday: Author Joyce Schneider stops by to talk about the medical elements of her thriller Embryo. Friday: Dianna Benson stops...

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A Histrionic Fit 3/3

JoAnn Spears returns to let her nursing prowess diagnose mental illness among long lost monarchs. This series focuses on Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. Her popular previous series on Henry VIII's illnesses can be found here:1. http://jordynredwood.blogspot.com/2012/01/florence-nightingale-diagnosis-henry.html2. http://jordynredwood.blogspot.com/2012/02/florence-nightingale-diagnosis-henry.html3. http://jordynredwood.blogspot.com/2012/02/florence-nightingale-diagnosis-henry_03.htmlParts...

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Drama Queens 2/3

JoAnn Spears returns to let her nursing prowess diagnose mental illness among long lost monarchs. This series focuses on Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. Her popular previous series on Henry VIII's illnesses can be found here:1. http://jordynredwood.blogspot.com/2012/01/florence-nightingale-diagnosis-henry.html2. http://jordynredwood.blogspot.com/2012/02/florence-nightingale-diagnosis-henry.html3. http://jordynredwood.blogspot.com/2012/02/florence-nightingale-diagnosis-henry_03.htmlPart...

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Disorders in the Court 1/3

JoAnn Spears returns to let her nursing prowess diagnose illness among long lost monarchs. This series focuses on Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. Her popular previous series on Henry VIII's illnesses can be found here:1. http://jordynredwood.blogspot.com/2012/01/florence-nightingale-diagnosis-henry.html2. http://jordynredwood.blogspot.com/2012/02/florence-nightingale-diagnosis-henry.html3. http://jordynredwood.blogspot.com/2012/02/florence-nightingale-diagnosis-henry_03.htmlPart...

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