Sherwin B. Nuland
Sherwin B. Nuland
A Legacy of Medical Wisdom and Literary Excellence
Full Name and Common Aliases
Sherwin Basil Nuland was an American physician, historian, and author. Born on March 14, 1930, he is often referred to by his full name or simply as Dr. Sherwin B. Nuland.
Birth and Death Dates
March 14, 1930 – March 3, 2006
Nationality and Profession(s)
American physician, historian, author
Early Life and Background
Sherwin Nuland was born in New York City to a family of Eastern European Jewish immigrants. His father, who had fled Nazi persecution in Austria, worked as an accountant, while his mother managed the household. Growing up in a modest home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, young Sherwin developed a passion for learning and writing. He attended the prestigious Bronx High School of Science before enrolling at Columbia University.
Major Accomplishments
Nuland's academic achievements and medical career were distinguished by numerous awards and honors. He earned his Bachelor's degree in English from Columbia University (1952) and later completed his M.D. from Columbia's College of Physicians and Surgeons (1963). As a medical historian, Nuland researched the history of medicine and wrote extensively on topics such as medical ethics and the development of surgical techniques.
Notable Works or Actions
Nuland published several influential books that showcased his expertise in both medicine and literature. His best-selling book, _How We Die: Reflections on Life's Final Chapter_ (1994), offered a comprehensive exploration of death and dying. This thought-provoking work not only shed light on the complexities of end-of-life care but also demonstrated Nuland's remarkable ability to balance scientific insight with literary flair.
Impact and Legacy
Sherwin B. Nuland's contributions to medical literature, coupled with his dedication to patient care, have left a lasting impact on the field of medicine and beyond. His writing has been praised for its accessibility, making complex medical concepts understandable to both professionals and non-experts alike. Nuland's tireless advocacy for improved end-of-life care and his advocacy for more compassionate treatment of patients with terminal illnesses continue to inspire healthcare providers and ethicists.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Sherwin B. Nuland is widely quoted and remembered due to the significant influence he has had on medical ethics, literature, and patient care. His works, including _How We Die_ and _The Maimonides Reader_, have become staples in medical education and continue to be referenced by scholars, healthcare professionals, and patients alike. Nuland's dedication to illuminating the complexities of human experience, as reflected in his writing on death and dying, serves as a testament to his enduring legacy.
Throughout his life, Sherwin B. Nuland demonstrated an extraordinary ability to navigate multiple disciplines – medicine, literature, and history. His unwavering commitment to improving patient care, coupled with his remarkable literary talent, has earned him a revered place in the annals of medical history and beyond.
Quotes by Sherwin B. Nuland
Even putting aside the Judeo-Christian morality upon which the Constitution and our nation's culture are based, the notion of forced euthanasia would contradict the long-held body of medical ethics to which all American doctors must adhere.
Where the despair of loneliness and poverty haunts every hour, the optimism to embark on new projects cannot find a place to alight on the brain's cortex. Poverty itself is an enormous obstacle to an enlightened and enlightening - not to say healthy - old age.
The more knowledge we have about the realities of lethal illness, the more sensible we can be about choosing the time to stop or the time to fight on, and the less we expect the kind of death most of us will not have. For those who die and those who love them, a realistic expectation is the surest path to tranquillity.
Self-assurance, optimism, productivity, attachments of caritas to others, pride in our physical selves – these are all philosophies that enhance living. They are wellsprings largely of our own making, and they can grow in significance as we let their energies pour into the ever-widening, deepening channel of experience and wisdom.
Shakespeare has Julius Caesar reflect that: Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come.
Human beings are capable of the kind of love and loyalty that transcends not only the physical debasement but even the spiritual weariness of the years of sorrow.
Nature is being kind without knowing it, as nature can be cruel without knowing it.
The kind of child our society resembles just now is one whose intelligence far exceeds his maturity. Every teacher and every parent knows what a formula for disaster that can be.
The lesson is never learned – there will always be those who persist in seeking the Fountain of Youth, or at least delaying what is irrevocably ordained.