Medicine II: Deathwatches Summary and Analysis

Konner was nominated for a National Book Award dinner that required he be away from the hospital for thirty hours, which gave him time to visit an old friend and reconsider his situation. He diagnosed a syndrome he named R.P.T.A. for Rapidly Progressive Testicular Atrophy, caused by sleeplessness, humiliation, ignorance and confusion shown by lack of confidence and pride. Upon returning to the hospital his syndrome was reinforced when nobody asked what he did, where he was or how it went.

His new intern Lily Corwin was kind and efficient at internal medicine and gave Konner assignments that kept him busy and learning. The first patient she assigned had Pickwickian syndrome that meant he continually fell asleep during the day from lack of sleep at night and obesity. His treatment with C-PAP (continuous positive...