Going Under

Dr. Mitchell Ravine was a physician anesthesiologist who crossed the line that all anesthesiologists knew about—-and it almost cost him his life. GOING UNDER is Dr. Ravine’s memoir that describes the terror of fentanyl addiction. He had several years of a successful anesthesia practice, including service as the departmental medical director, but was troubled by migraine headaches. One day, he diverted fentanyl for personal use. The subsequent slippery slope of secretive usage led to the claws of an addiction that ultimately controlled his mind, body, and spirit—-at the same time that he performed his duties as an anesthesiologist, and his role as husband and father. Dialogue captures the family’s emotion, as well as the intense clinical decision-making moments in the operating room.

MITCHELL RAVINE was born and raised in the Midwest. He became interested in the medical field at an early age, primarily through repeated visits to the ear doctor as a child. He pursued the career in college and was accepted into medical school. After rotations through different specialties, Mitch was most interested in the operating room activities and procedures of anesthesiology. He married his high school sweetheart, Hannah, and they moved to the east coast for his anesthesiology residency. After completion, and birth of their first child, they moved back to the Midwest where Dr. Ravine began in private practice. They had another child, and lived there for many year