What does a world renowned brain and neurosurgeon do when he has free time? Write amazing medical thrillers, of course!
One day while
sitting in a committee meeting that oversaw the selection of a computerized
medical record system that would eliminate dangerous mistakes, Wyler came up
with the hook for his first novel, 
Deadly
Errors. He remarked, "What if the computer system used to prevent
such errors was flawed? From 44,000 to 98,000 people die in hospitals each year
from preventable medical errors,
making this the country's eight leading cause of death-higher than motor
vehicle accidents, breast cancer, or AIDS.
There's good evidence that computerized medical records decrease these
kinds of mistakes."
Inspired by the success of his first novel, he was having lunch with his editor to pitch ideas for his next novel when she suggested writing a novel about keeping a detached head alive. I thought, "Where did that come from? I then started playing around with the idea and loved it."
Wyler's second novel, Dead Head, opens with brain surgeon Russell Lawton kidnapped by terrorists. They have also abducted his little girl and to insure she stays alive, he must capitulate to their demands. They want him to design a computer that can use brain waves to create speech and manipulate robotic body parts. The leader of the terrorists has been in a horrible disfiguring accident and they plan to use Lawton's device to learn their leader's bold plan to create havoc. Lawton is running out of time and torn between helping the terrorists to keep his daughter alive but potentially killing thousands of others if the bold plan comes to fruition.
Wyler's high
concept thriller isn't as over the top as it might seem. Many of the ideas utilized in the novel are
medical reality. "There are at least two
companies presently trying to produce commercial brain/computer
interfaces. In other words, they have
devices that can convert brain activity into electronic signals that control
robots or robotic devices."
The potential for science involving this type of work is enormous. Currently, the device manufactured by Neural Signals helps people with paralysis from diseases like ALS or high spinal cord injury so they can communicate. The other company in this field, Cyberkinetics, uses this equipment to help quadriplegics manipulate a robotic arm. "Some of their patients can now do a variety of tasks, like communicating by email. Think about how much that might mean if you were paralyzed."
As interesting as the story is, Wyler can't ignore the moral implications. "As a neurosurgeon I have a hard time understanding how such an invention could be applied to humans or animals. If the concept was to temporarily keep a head alive so it could be transported to a donor body, I still don't "get it." Maybe I'm missing something, but I doubt it."
One of the proofs that this science is more reality than fiction is the patent that was filed on May 19, 1987 called A Device For Perfusing An Animal Head. "The patent makes for some very interesting and bizarre reading. I really can't imagine what that machine might be used for. Allegedly, the inventor's name, Chet Flemming, is false. The story is that he did this in anticipation of significant blowback and wand to spare himself and his family grief.
When asked why a successful neurosurgeon writes medical thrillers on the side, Wyler responded, "Cause I gotta. The other answer is because practicing neurosurgery doesn't really allow a heck of a lot of creativity, so I channel that urge into my writing. I've always been an avid reader, so it seems natural to try to write."
Wyler has turned in the manuscript for his next novel, Fatal Recall. He wanted to add, "Kudos to David Morrell, Gayle Lynds, and all the other great writers who founded ITW. I love the genre and applaud the concept of promoting it as much as possible."
-- Jeff Ayers
Allen Wyler wanted to be a physician from an early age. As a professor at the University of Tennessee and highly skilled neurosurgeon, he also dreamed of writing novels. He fulfilled both wishes, his second with the publication of the acclaimed medical thriller, Deadly Errors. Allen lives in the Seattle, WA area and has just finished his third novel.
