A powerful new voice has entered the medical literature with the release of Prognostication: Principles and Practice by Dr. Bernardo A. Gutierrez. With nearly five decades of clinical experience, Dr. Gutierrez offers a timely and urgent call for physicians to reclaim their judgment and re-center patient care around individualized prognosis rather than blindly following standardized protocols.
In a healthcare system increasingly driven by algorithms, protocols, and industrialized treatment models, Prognostication stands out as a practical guide and a philosophical challenge. The book urges doctors to pause and ask the most human question: What is the likely outcome for this specific patient, at this specific stage of life?
“The outcome of perfect aging is always death,” writes Dr. Gutierrez. “Doctors need to differentiate between prolonging life and prolonging the process of dying.” These core insights form the heart of the book, which blends clinical wisdom with a sharp critique of modern medical norms.
Dr. Gutierrez draws from decades spent working in cardiology, geriatrics, internal medicine, emergency care, and terminal care, both in the U.S. and Colombia. His message is not only scientific but deeply personal. “The anxiety, dissatisfaction, and guilt of not being able to save every patient, especially early in my career, pushed me to look deeper,” he explains. “What truly determines death? And how can we stop treating it as a failure?”
Rather than viewing aging and death as battles to be won, Prognostication presents them as natural processes that deserve respect, clarity, and compassionate care. The book offers doctors a practical method to assess each patient’s strengths, vulnerabilities, and medical context, helping guide appropriate care that avoids unnecessary suffering and futile interventions.
Early readers in the medical community have praised the book for its courage, clarity, and humanity. “This is the kind of book that reminds us why we became doctors,” noted one internist. “It’s not about more medicine, it’s about better judgment.”
The book also has important implications for medical education and policy. Dr. Gutierrez hopes to see it used in teaching hospitals, nursing schools, and medical libraries as a core resource for future healthcare professionals. With its balance of clinical insight and philosophical depth, Prognostication bridges the gap between textbook theory and bedside reality.
At a time when burnout and moral injury are widespread in the medical profession, Dr. Gutierrez offers a steady, experienced voice urging a return to purpose. “We are not just technicians,” he writes. “We are human beings caring for other human beings, and we must act like it.”
Prognostication: Principles and Practice is available now on Amazon and other major booksellers.
About the Author
Dr. Bernardo A. Gutierrez is a retired physician and former assistant teacher of medicine with nearly 50 years of clinical experience in cardiology, internal medicine, geriatrics, emergency care, and end-of-life care. A strong advocate for personalized medicine, he draws on decades of bedside practice to challenge protocol-driven healthcare and promote compassionate, patient-centered decision-making.
Book Availability
Link: Prognostication: Principles and Practice