Description

Book Synopsis

''A remarkably honest memoir of a life spent pulling people back from death'' - Adam Kay

In these stories, Dr Jim Down brings us to the very heart of the intensive care unit - the section of the hospital where the sickest patients are brought to be cared for until their condition improves. With honesty, humility and a streak of dark humour, Dr Down describes the quietly heroic work of doctors and nurses on the ICU, a place which sits at the cutting edge of medical technology and where a split-second decision can make the difference between life and death.

From headline-grabbing cases like that of Alexander Litvinenko, poisoned by Russian agents and admitted to Down''s ward, to the appalling aftermath of a train crash, Life in the Balance offers an inside glimpse of intensive care medicine, its immense challenges, deleterious effects on doctors'' mental health and enormous rewards. Its profundity will make you reconsider the fragility of life and reframe y

Life in the Balance

    Product form

    A Paperback by Dr Jim Down

    £10.44

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £10.99 – you save £0.55 (5%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Sat 12 Sep 2026.

    1 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of Life in the Balance by Dr Jim Down

      Book details

      Publisher Penguin Random House Group
      Imprint Penguin Books Ltd
      Published 1/29/2024
      ISBN-13 9780241506394
      978-0241506394
      ISBN-10 0241506395
      Also in:
      Biography Autobiography: science, technology and medicine

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      ''A remarkably honest memoir of a life spent pulling people back from death'' - Adam Kay

      In these stories, Dr Jim Down brings us to the very heart of the intensive care unit - the section of the hospital where the sickest patients are brought to be cared for until their condition improves. With honesty, humility and a streak of dark humour, Dr Down describes the quietly heroic work of doctors and nurses on the ICU, a place which sits at the cutting edge of medical technology and where a split-second decision can make the difference between life and death.

      From headline-grabbing cases like that of Alexander Litvinenko, poisoned by Russian agents and admitted to Down''s ward, to the appalling aftermath of a train crash, Life in the Balance offers an inside glimpse of intensive care medicine, its immense challenges, deleterious effects on doctors'' mental health and enormous rewards. Its profundity will make you reconsider the fragility of life and reframe y

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account