A Case of Need is Michael Crichton's debut novel, originally published under the pseudonym Jeffery Hudson in 1968. Set against the ever-building pressure and pace of a large Boston medical center, the tensions flare—and explode—when a surgical operation tragically ends in death, raising countless questions. Was it accidental malpractice? A violation of the Hippocratic oath? Or cold-blooded murder?

This novel delves into the complexities of medical ethics and the high-stakes environment of a bustling hospital. Powerful, compelling, and suspenseful, it is classic Crichton at his best.