Themes & Big Questions

1. The novel shows how the healthcare system often puts profits before patients. What experiences have you or your loved ones had that reflect this theme?
2. During COVID-19, doctors and nurses were celebrated as heroes. How did reading the novel influence your view of healthcare professionals today?
3. In what ways does A Dangerous Diagnosis reveal the tension between compassion and capitalism in medicine?
4. A key line in the book says, “Every system is perfectly designed to achieve the results it gets.” Which moments in the story illustrate this idea? When do you feel the system is to blame, and when do you hold the individual characters responsible?
5. The Mount Beacon Declaration in the Epilogue proposes ways to reform healthcare. Which of those ideas resonate with you? Which leave you skeptical—and why?

Characters & Motivation

6. The story explores why Sanjay chose concierge medicine for the ultra-rich. Were his reasons justified? What would you have done differently in his place?
7. Which characters did you empathize with most—and why? Do you hold them accountable for their choices, or do you see them as victims of a broken system?
8. What is Sanjay’s story arc? What fundamental misbelief drives him at the start of the novel, and how does it evolve by the end?
9. What is Emma’s story arc? How do her beliefs and motivations change as the story unfolds?
10. There are many types of doctor-personalities in this book. What makes a “good doctor”? Has your view changed after reading the book?

Plot, Mystery & Humor

11. The novel includes several twists and surprises. Which one caught you most off guard?
12. The story features many diagnostic puzzles. Which one did you enjoy—or find most fascinating—the most?
13. The book is intentionally funny and absurd in places. Which scene or line made you laugh or smile the most?

Reflections & Personal Connection

14. How have your feelings about medicine changed after finishing the novel? Does it make you see your doctor’s office or the hospital differently?
15. At the end of Chapter 2, a character says, “I’ve learned that fighting and losing is better than not living.” Do you agree? Have you faced a similar dilemma in your own life?
16. What do you think the title A Dangerous Diagnosis means? What are all the “dangerous diagnoses” in the story—literal, moral, or societal?
17. What are your favorite books—fiction or nonfiction—about medicine, healthcare, or the lives of healthcare professionals? How does A Dangerous Diagnosis fit within that broader canon?

For Healthcare Professionals in Practice or Training

18. One of the major scenes takes place during rounds at Mount Beacon Hospital, when Sanjay interacts with residents and medical students. What parts of this scene struck a chord with you? In what ways does it reflect both the best and the worst of medical training?
19. Sanjay is the first in his family to become a doctor. How does his experience as an “outsider” in medicine resonate with your own? What changes could make the system more welcoming to those who don’t fit the traditional mold?
20. Early in the novel, Sanjay, Neil, and Emma reflect on their reasons for going into medicine. What were yours—and how have you stayed connected to them through the challenges of your work or training?
21. A theme running through the story is the idea of “fighting” the brokenness in the healthcare system. When have you wanted to fight back—or when have you actually done so? What did you learn from those moments?
22. The book cites the tragic statistic that one physician a day dies by suicide in the United States. What steps can each of us take—individually and collectively—to change that, even for one colleague or ourselves?