Painful

One Doctor's fight against the opioid epidemic and Big Pharma

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Pub Date Aug 09 2021 | Archive Date Jul 14 2021

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Description

Ryan Sharpe is a struggling anesthesiologist trying to pay off his massive student loan debt and prepare for a baby when he lands a highly lucrative expert job defending Dr. Richard Washington, CEO of the largest chain of pain clinics in the southeast.

Ryan quickly learns the dark side of the success of Dr. Washington's pain clinic empire when he discovers a deadly addictive opioid, Ultracodone, is being inappropriately prescribed at his clinics. Ryan's ethics as a physician compel him to inform Dr. Washington about the unethical prescribing, but Dr. Washington is unmoved.

After confronting Dr. Washington, Ryan's personal and professional life spirals out of control. His pain clinic is raided, his wife is accused of stealing a box of fentanyl from the hospital where she works as a nurse and his family's lives are threatened by a mysterious Irishman claiming to work for Dr. Washington.

Desperate for money and out of options, Ryan steals opioids from the hospital pharmacy to finance his acquisition of new identities so he, his wife, and his sister can disappear. Their plan takes an unexpected turn when the Irishman kidnaps his wife to insure Ryan's allegiance. Ryan must now risk everything if he is to save his wife and successfully execute their plan to begin a new life as new people.

Whitesides unites the medical and legal thriller in one fast-paced, plot twisting tale of personal pain, professional deception, and corporate malfeasance as one doctor fights for his life against an unethical doctor and Big Pharma

Ryan Sharpe is a struggling anesthesiologist trying to pay off his massive student loan debt and prepare for a baby when he lands a highly lucrative expert job defending Dr. Richard Washington, CEO...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781098366049
PRICE $14.95 (USD)
PAGES 298

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Average rating from 8 members


Featured Reviews

Dr. Ryan Sharpe worked very hard. He was a clinic owner, hospital anesthesiologist and (frequently) a courtroom expert. Yet, with $40,000 in debt for his medical school and his wife's nursing school, Ryan could not afford to live extravagantly.

Now: Ryan was involved in a courtroom battle on the side of Dr. Richard Washington. Washington is a very popular doctor - and has been so for 35 years. He had persuaded Ryan to buy his non-moneymaking clinic. However the catch was that Ryan had to work on a study utilizing strong painkillers: CVAC10 and CVAC50.

Not working at his clinic full-time, Ryan doesn't realize that a large number of prescriptions for CVAC50 (very potent) are being written at the clinic. Too late?

A SUPERB MUST read. Highly recommend to all - one of this years best.

Many Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this story.

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Ryan, a doctor whose heart belongs to his wife, but whose brain belongs to medicine and money is put in an awful situation where he can lose everything. Between working his normal job and being an expert for medical malpractice cases, Ryan's wife is left feeling alone. Being a medical expert is great pay, but can truly get you in hot water, which Ryan learns very quickly, especially when those involved are also involved in his pain clinic business. At risk of losing himself, Anna, and their soon to be baby, Ryan has to make decisions that can cost him his life.

This book is a fast paced book with a wonderful story line and well developed characters.

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Good novel about a Doctor and his nurse wife,who are going to have a baby earlier than they wanted and they desperately need more money.
Since he also testifies in wrongful death suit trials and is in a partnership with a friend that has a clinic,he meets himself coming and going.
He is supposed to testify for a really well known Doctor and the man suggests bringing one of his friends in to relieve the young Dr.of some of the burden, he is carrying

All goes well until he finds out the helper, who is a Nurse Practitioner is writing scripts for hundreds of narcotics everyday.
These are only in the testing faze and could be potentially fatal in the wrong hands.
But,the famous Doctor is behind this drug and wants the drugs to continue to be given out.

He makes it clear,what could happen,to him,his wife and sister,if things don't stay the same,but the Dr.won't do it.

This is well written,very suspenseful and will hold your interest from the start.
When I was reading this,I was wondering, just how much of this really goes on?

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Painful by Mac Whitesides was a fabulous gripping read. This is a rapid-paced, compelling story with masterful execution. The constant action means there is never a dull moment
I love a good thriller. Something to get the mind working, heart racing and having you on the edge of your seat. Great writing, great characters and a great storyline. Giving this one the full five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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A compelling read on how medical ethics and professional ethics can quickkly and insidiously be undermined and manipulated by the powerhungry, coercive people running big pharma and healthcare corporations. In this fictionalized story. Entrapped by both mounting monetary debt and the risk of loss of license and professional reputation, a young anesthesiologist, who owns finance strapped pain management clinic, with a pregnant wife and college debt looming large, he works to increase his income quickly, while trying to remain on the right side of the law. He comes up against formidable adversaries who are using him in multiple ways to advance their own agenda of corporate growth and wealth by entrapping him. This story is well plotted with believable characters and situations based in our current reality. An engaging, fast-paced, novel that is painful but enlightening to read.

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This is just a bit too believable. I was looking for the “based on a true story” disclaimer. The plot, the characters, the dialogue - the whole premise was so completely credible! Fast paced and gripping, this book will appeal to fans of thrillers and medical dramas alike.

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