Heroine Interview for Medical Error by Richard Mabry

» Posted on Sep 21, 2010 in Blog | Comments Off on Heroine Interview for Medical Error by Richard Mabry


This week I’m hosting Richard Mabry with Medical Error, Lorna Seilstad with Making Waves and Darlene Franklin with A Woodland Christmas. If you want to enter the drawings, please leave a comment on one of the post during the week with your email address. I will not enter you without an email address (my way to contact you if you win). If you don’t want to leave an email
address, another way you can enter is to email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday (September 26th) evening.

Interview with the heroine of Richard Mabry’sMedical Error, Dr. Anna McIntyre:

1 Anna, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

I never thought I was very interesting until that one day recently, but apparently someone took an interest in me—at least, in my identity. As a result, in a single day I found myself suspected of a felony, on the verge of losing my position at the medical school, and likely to be the target of a malpractice suit. I guess that makes me interesting—frustrated, depressed, and confused, but definitely interesting.

2. What do you do for fun?

Hey, I’m a doctor. I don’t have time for fun. I do enjoy grabbing a cup of Starbuck’s from the food court at the medical center, but that’s about it right now. If I had time, I’d love to be able to watch a good movie. I’d even settle for a TV sitcom, which shows how desperate I am for diversion.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?

I hate to open my bills, because every time I do I’m afraid I’ll see that someone has charged more stuff and shoved my credit further down the tubes.

4. What are you afraid of most in life?

I suppose I’m most afraid of losing my license to practice medicine. I’ve wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember, but it seems that the authorities are trying to take that away from me. I know you’re not supposed to think your profession defines you, but right now that’s all I have.

5. What do you want out of life?

Well, I’d like to continue helping others through my profession. Beyond that,
I guess I want what any single woman my age might want: the love of a good man, a family, a little happiness. Of course, right now that doesn’t look promising. The only two men in my life are my allies in fighting the charges against me: a pathologist colleague with more guilt issues than you can imagine and a recovering alcoholic lawyer.

6. What is the most important thing to you?

I know I’m supposed to say my relationship with God, and that’s important, no question. But the thing that’s foremost in my mind most of the time nowadays is restoring my good name.

7. Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?

Most days, I drop into bed exhausted at the end of the day. In the ten years since I started medical school, I suppose I’ve read a dozen books. When I do have time to read, I like Amish romances. Right now, there’s a book by Lauraine Snelling on my bedside table. It lets me lose myself in a simpler time and simpler society.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I’ll have to admit that, along with red hair, my Irish heritage has given me something of a temper. I suppose I’d be better off if I could control it, although sometimes it gives me a little extra edge when I have to battle for something.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

I have a goldfish named Hippocrates. All he requires is a pinch of food every day and clean water in his fishbowl from time to time. He’s the perfect low-maintenance pet for someone with a life like mine. I don’t have to walk him, brush him, or take him to the vet. But it’s good to know there’s another living creature in my apartment.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

Would you accept traveling forward? I’d like to move the calendar up about six months and hope that the police no longer want to arrest me, my creditors aren’t barking at my heels, and no one is accusing me of malpractice. Failing that, maybe I could move it back to the day before all this started and keep living that day over and over again…sort of like Groundhog Day. (Oh, back to #2, I love Bill Murray comedies).