Thank you to Netgalley and Amplify publishing for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book about the current medical system, and how it can so easily lead to misdiagnoses and medical malpractice. This follows the life of the author, as a misdiagnosis led him to a vicious cycle of taking meds he didn't need that triggered psychosis coupled with his untreated sleep apnea, with the psychosis leading to more misdiagnoses, and more meds that made the situation worse.

Furthermore, this book also delves into the failures of not just the medical system but also of the judicial system and police when it comes to dealing with mentally ill people. One such example is conservatorship, which is still lacking enough safeguards to prevent potential abuse.

Another important part of this book is the rationale of the author as he progressively falls into paranoia and psychosis. And although he can look back on it now and say that he was acting in an unhinged way, the thought process that led to these actions? It made sense to him at the time, and we can see how he got to that point. Which makes this a great book to understand psychosis, and to remember that at the end of the day, we're all human, regardless of mental illness, and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

I can only hope that this book will become a bestseller, because this is something that more people need to know about. So that it doesn't happen to them. So that they can intervene if it happens to their loved ones. So that the people that can prevent this from occurring altogether, such as medical staff, are more careful. Because if it can happen to a doctor, it can happen to anyone. And as a disabled person, I certainly wish that I had been able to read this years ago, because I would likely have been more willing to push my doctors to just listen to me, and I would have switched doctors much earlier, avoiding a slew of misdiagnoses.

An interesting book about misdiagnosis and its harmful effects, all exacerbated by a medical system based on profits not patients. Most disturbing is that this patient was a doctor but he didn’t bother to investigate his mistreatment and the improper medications he was prescribed. This really proves that we must advocate for ourselves and not be blinded by white coats.

A wow of a memoir about a physician misdiagnosed, put on meds that led to psychosis, psych hospitalizations, and a career and life collapse. A cautionary tale about what can happen when healthcare goes really really wrong.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
What a terrifying story! To think that so many doctors (and pharmacists) misdiagnosed and mismanaged the author's health is appalling.
I had a very rare major illness (Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis) but thankfully got the correct diagnosis right away. I still have to live with a lot of damage to my body but to think of how easily things could've gone wrong is scary.
The author brings up a lot of important elements to medical care overall, especially the money aspect of facilities trying to cut costs at the expense of good patient care.

Thank you NetGalley and Amplify Publishing for the ARC. As a professional in healthcare this book was a really interesting read into doctors treating other doctors and the negligence and appalling treatment of Dr Standage. I do not work in the mental or behavior health speciality in medicine so I cannot fully understand the complete failure of care, but it is so important in healthcare to take a good history and ask questions relevant to the patient's medical history if it is appropriate. I read this book in just a few settings as I was interested in the catastrophic failure of the medical system at the hands of Dr Standage's care. Healthcare professional or not this is a good non fiction read into the life of someone who had a mental health crisis and was not treated properly.

I received a free copy of, White Coats and Black Swans, by Scott Standage, MD, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Its ironic that even a doctor get misdiagnosed. Why are so many people getting misdiagnosed? This book also proves how invaluable it is to have some fighting for us.

This is Scott Standage’s story of being misdiagnosed with a rare movement disorder when what he actually had was a sleep disorder, and the catastrophic turmoil that resulted from his taking inappropriate medications for years as a result of that misdiagnosis. Though a doctor himself, Standage trusted a supposedly highly regarded specialist who gave him the harmful diagnosis, albeit in a slapdash way with inaccurate information. The inappropriate medications induced paranoia in Standage that had ruinous effects on his life. This book is a stark cautionary tale of misplaced trust in medical opinions, and a clear undercurrent of resentment runs through it—this is understandable, though I might have wished Standage had attained a little more mental distance before writing this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of *White Coats and Black Swans* before publication. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I found *White Coats and Black Swans* both fascinating and quite frightening, mainly because this is not a hypothetical story about what can go wrong in medicine. Scott Standage is himself a physician, yet even with his medical knowledge and experience, he found himself trapped in a cycle of misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment and worsening symptoms.

What struck me most was how quickly one incorrect diagnosis seemed to lead to another. Standage originally sought help for severe fatigue, brain fog and daytime sleepiness and had evidence of obstructive sleep apnea, but that diagnosis was dismissed. He was instead given a different diagnosis and prescribed multiple psychoactive medications, after which his mental health deteriorated dramatically. The fact that this eventually resulted in psychosis, involuntary psychiatric holds and the collapse of his career makes the story incredibly difficult to read at times.

I particularly liked the fact that he writes from the unusual position of being both doctor and patient. There are moments where he describes what he genuinely believed while experiencing paranoia and psychosis, and then steps back to examine the same period through medical records and clinical knowledge. That contrast was probably the strongest part of the book for me because it shows how completely someone's perception can change while also highlighting the failures of the professionals who were supposed to be assessing him.

The wider issues are just as interesting. The book is not only about one diagnosis going wrong; it raises questions about polypharmacy, psychiatric care, hospital systems, insurance providers and what happens when doctors rely too heavily on previous notes rather than reconsidering what is actually happening in front of them. His eventual legal case also adds another layer because the story becomes partly an examination of accountability and what it takes to prove that serious mistakes were made.

My main criticism is that the book can become quite repetitive and very medically detailed. Medication names, diagnoses and records are revisited frequently, and there were parts where it felt more like reading evidence from a medical negligence file than a memoir. I understood why that level of detail was included, but I think some tightening would have made the narrative more powerful.

Overall, though, I found this a compelling and important read. It is uncomfortable precisely because Standage understood medicine and still struggled to make himself heard. It left me thinking about how easily a diagnosis can shape every decision that follows and how difficult it can be to challenge that narrative once it appears in a medical record.

A fascinating and genuinely alarming account of how misdiagnosis, untreated sleep apnoea and medication can snowball into psychiatric catastrophe. The strongest parts were seeing psychosis from inside it.

. I found the wider critique of medicine compelling too, though at times the book felt a little repetitive and overly determined to prove its case. Important and interesting, but not quite as nuanced as I wanted it to be.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Scott Standage, MD, for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

White Coats and Black Swans is a thought-provoking exploration of medicine, uncertainty, and the unexpected events that can profoundly impact both patients and healthcare professionals. Through personal insights and real-world experiences, Dr. Standage examines the challenges of navigating unpredictable situations in healthcare while highlighting the human side of medicine.

As someone who works in healthcare, I found this book especially fascinating. Dr. Standage presents complex medical topics in a way that is both accessible and engaging. The combination of medical insight and personal storytelling kept me invested from beginning to end.

I particularly appreciated the book's focus on the uncertainty that exists within medicine. The author does an excellent job illustrating how resilience, adaptability, and compassion play vital roles in patient care. The personal reflections and real-life examples made the lessons feel meaningful and relatable.

At times, some of the medical discussions became more detailed and technical, which may be challenging for readers without a healthcare background. I also would have enjoyed even more personal stories, as those were some of the most compelling parts of the book.

Overall, White Coats and Black Swans is an insightful and engaging read that offers a unique perspective on healthcare, decision-making, and the human experience. It is both educational and inspiring.

Thank you again to NetGalley, the publisher, and Scott Standage, MD, for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I greatly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to healthcare professionals as well as readers interested in the realities and complexities of modern medicine.