The novel basically deals with gender discrimination in the medical profession including corruption done by pharmaceutical
companies.
The main character Dr. Paula Cairns, a female surgeon was employed by New Coventry Medical Center as junior surgeon and researcher in the Department of Surgery. Prior to her employment, she has to undergo rigid questioning by Dr. Clifford Abrams, a senior clinical professor and head of the
research Department. He has a candidate of his own,Dr. Steve Charnley, an equally bright medical surgeon.Dr. Cairns was eventually employed due to the backing of Dr. Maurice Bennet, an upright doctor who heads the Department of Surgery.
Dr. Paula Cairns was researching on enzymes to dissolve blood clots especially for patients with
aneurysm. A multi-national pharmaceutical, Millway Pharmaceuticals was experiencing near bankruptcy. The new corporate president Seth Millway, a happy-go-lucky executive, was bent on reviving the company. He offered to finance the research work of Dr. Cairns through the MIllway Foundation but she declined because of the bad reputation of the foundation. Seth Millway used all her efforts to convince Dr. Cairns but nothing came out positive.
Dr. Steve Charnley was fired from the hospital he was working due to the death of his patient who was suffering from cardiac arrest. He developed an arterioscope designed to prevent bloodclotting but was a fiasco. He was later on employed by the New Caventry Medical Center as assistant to Dr. Abrams. It was then that Dr. Cairns and Charnley became close until they became lovers. Dr. Abrams including the legal officer of the hospital connived with Seth Millway. They devised a ploy to steal the results of the research of Dr. Cairns by employing a computer expert to hack her computer with the aid of her assistant. Sensing the bad ploy, Dr. Cairns rervised all her codes and was not accessed by anybody.
Dr. Maurice Bennett was found to have aneurysm. He requested Dr. Cairns as his personal surgeon and physician. When he was about to go to a speaking engagement of the Association of American Surgeons, the brakes of his car were detached by goons hired by Seth Millway. He met an accident but survived. However, there was a need to immediately operate his aneurysm. That was the moment Dr. Cairns skillfully used her surgical prowess with the help of Dr. Charnley's revised arterioscope. Dr. Bennett's operation was a success to the joys of the medical personnel in the hospital.
The novel ends with Dr. Paula Cairns and Dr. Steve Charnley attending a tennis match of Nicky Millway , a girl who met an accident at the train station earlier in the story.. Her foot was badly damaged but was operated on by Dr. Cairns. She was deeply enthusiastic of the game. Dr. Cairns was nervous at the sight of Nicky playing with her opponent. Her foot might suffer damage. Amidst nervousness, Nicky handily won to the delight of the audience. Thriumphant, she gave a bunch of flowers to Dr. Cairns.