Week 6: Medical Prep Review - Life, Death, and Difficult Questions

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to Week 6! By now you’ve hopefully booked your UCAT, made a dent in your question bank, and maybe even remembered what sleep feels like (see Week 5 if not).

As I was choosing a book to take on holiday from my bookshelf, I came across this week’s pick. I remembered the impact it had on me when I first read it - a fresh, philosophical perspective on something we don’t talk about enough. And that’s what I wanted to theme this week around: death. From the ethical decisions it involves to the emotional weight it carries, this week’s picks are a bit heavier, but absolutely essential.

Let’s get into it.

Book of the Week: Causing Death and Saving Lives by Jonathan Glover

This is a philosophy book - but don’t be put off. It’s surprisingly readable and incredibly useful for any medical applicant. Causing Death and Saving Lives explores the ethical dilemmas around killing, letting die, and saving life - from abortion and euthanasia to war and withdrawal of care.

One of the key questions Glover explores is whether there is a moral difference between killing someone and letting them die (also known as the doctrine of doing versus allowing). Many medical students encounter this concept when learning about palliative care, where nurses may administer high doses of painkillers that relieve suffering (the doing) but also hasten death (the allowing). Glover takes this one step further, questioning how morally acceptable such actions are and how this reasoning extends to more controversial areas, such as euthanasia.

This discussion feels especially relevant following the recent passing of the Assisted Dying Bill, which allows terminally ill patients to request help in ending their own lives. Currently, the bill only applies to those with a life expectancy of six months or less, excluding patients with conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s - paradoxically, often the groups most associated with calls for euthanasia. Perhaps this is only the beginning, and future legislation will push the boundaries even further.

This book is particularly relevant for MMI stations and interviews that ask about ethical frameworks, autonomy, or end-of-life care. It doesn’t give you one “right” answer, but it helps you ask better questions and articulate your reasoning with depth.

Some of the most useful chapters cover:

• Euthanasia and physician-assisted dying

• Resource allocation and triage

• The idea of a “life worth living”

Glover pushes you to reflect on the value of life but not in an abstract way. These are scenarios real doctors face every day. If you’re applying to medicine, especially with an interest in ethics, this book is perfect for you.

Podcast of the Week: Sharp Scratch – “How Do Doctors Cope With Death?”

This two part series of Sharp Scratch is one I think every medical student should listen to. In it, junior doctors and students discuss how they’ve personally dealt with death on the wards - from their first patient loss to the emotional aftermath.

In this episode you’ll hear about:

• The pressure to “stay professional” while still processing personal grief

• The unspoken culture of avoidance around death in hospitals

• How different specialties (like oncology or palliative care) approach death

• How people cope (from debriefs to crying in the toilets)

One powerful moment comes when a junior doctor admits they didn't even know if it was okay to be upset as no one talked about it.

This podcast is incredibly helpful for applicants thinking about the emotional challenges of medicine. If you're asked in an interview, "How do you think you'll cope with difficult situations?", this episode will give you far more thoughtful answers than a textbook ever could.

That’s all for this week. If you’ve got a recommendation for a podcast or book (especially a niche one I might not have come across), I’d love to hear it. Email me at reubencordina@gmail.com or drop a comment below.

Have a good week and never shy away from the big questions. They’re the ones that matter.

See you soon for Week 7.