Five Patients

Last updated October 31, 2026

By Michael Crichton

Michael Crichton draws on his time as a Harvard medical student to follow five patients through Massachusetts General Hospital in the late 1960s. Each case shows a different side of hospital care. Through their stories he explains how a large modern hospital works, how medical practice and technology were changing, and what rising costs meant for patients and doctors. The cases range from routine treatment to emergencies.

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