If you're a fan of odd medical phenomena (or, like me, the TV show House) you may have heard the story of Oscar the cat, who has accurately predicted dozens of deaths at a nursing facility in Providence. On Thursday, Dr. David Dosa, Barrington resident and author of the NY Times bestselling book, Making Rounds with Oscar will be reading and signing at Aquidneck Island's great indie bookstore, Island Books in Middletown, at 6:30pm.

Here's the blurb from the Island Books e-mail:

When Dr. David Dosa, an attending physician at Steere House in Providence, wrote about Oscar in the New England Journal of Medicine, the response was tremendous, with coverage everywhere from Today to People to CNN. Now, in Making Rounds with Oscar, Dr. Dosa expands his story, using the tabby and the stories of several patients to examine end-of-life care as it exists today. Oscar the cat has very special skill. An otherwise ordinary cat--he'd sooner give you his back or a sideways glance than curl up on your lap--Oscar has the uncanny ability to predict when people are about to die.

Adopted by staff members at Steere House nursing home when he was a kitten, the three year-old tabby has presided over the deaths of more than 25 nursing home residents thus far. His mere presence at the bedside is viewed by physicians and nursing home staff as an almost absolute indicator of impending death--a blessing, really, because it allows staff members to notify families that the end is near. Oscar is highly regarded by the physicians and staff at Steere House and by the families of the residents whom he serves because he provides companionship to those who would otherwise have died alone.
— press release

Resources:
Island Books
Dr. David Dosa's web site

Full disclosure: I like books. I like cats. I like independent bookstores. House is one of the few network shows that doesn't make me hurl.