Adam Kay

Author of This is Going to Hurt, Kay is the narrator for the entirety of the novel. The reader learns about his life on the hospital ward through his medical diaries, starting from when he was a junior doctor. Kay's experience as a doctor is clearly portrayed as merely one of many, as he describes himself as similarly beginning his career at a young age and not knowing what direction he wants to take in medicine. As a narrator and a doctor, Kay is clearly extremely invested in his patients, but is often forced to choose his professional life over his personal life. Throughout the book, the reader sees Kay struggle to balance his personal and professional life, staying behind past his scheduled hours and therefore damaging personal relationships.

As a writer, Kay employs humor in order to talk about difficult issues. Although many parts of...