The Fat Man meets Dr. Cox

While reading House of God I was most struck by the character of The Fat Man, Roy Basch’s mentor, father-figure, and even savior during his internship at The House of God. The Fat Man is seemingly the last doctor any patient would want – disheveled, cynical, and unconcerned with policies and rules. However, Roy discovers that he is in fact a maverick among the physicians who genuinely cares for patients and contributes most to their recovery through his “do nothing” approach.

Not unlike Dr. Perry Cox on ABC’s Scrubs, The Fat Man maverick attitude is difficult to accept upon first glance. He teaches interns to disregard most of the long-standing principles of the hospital in favor of his “rules.” He openly defies instructions and lies about patient care, teaching Roy and the other interns to “buff” – basically, to fabricate – their charts.

As a student anticipating my own education in medicine, Samuel Shem’s portrayal of internship is challenging and disturbing. I am left to grapple with his grim depiction of the process, the backlash of conservative supporters of the current education system, and Roy Basch’s conclusion that psychiatric help and a career outside of the traditional realm of medicine is the only way to survive.