“Gomers are human beings who have lost what goes into being human beings. They want to die, and we will not let them.” — Samuel Shem Copy Share Image
“We were putting into these gomers our fear of death, but who knew if they feared death? Perhaps they welcomed death like a dear long-lost cousin, grown old but still known, coming to visit, relieving the loneliness, the failing of the senses, the fury of the half-blind looking into the mirror and not recognizing who is looking back, a dear… — Samuel Shem Copy Share
“Paranoia's OK," said Berry, "it's just a more primitive defense. If you think someone's watching you, you think you're not alone.” — Samuel Shem Copy Share Image
“Law XIII. THE DELIVERY OF MEDICAL CARE IS TO DO AS MUCH NOTHING AS POSSIBLE” — Samuel Shem Copy Share Image
Yes, last year in interviewing. Empathy is when you repeat the last three words the patient says and nod your head. — Samuel Shem Copy Share Image
“Basch: So why don't you ask her out? The Runt: I'm scared she wouldn't like me and say no. -So what? What have you got to lose? -The possibility -if she says no- that she might have said yes. Whatever I do, I don't want to lose that possibility.” — Samuel Shem Copy Share
“Gomers are human beings who have lost what goes into being human beings. They want to die, and we will not let them.” — Samuel Shem Copy Share Image
“Every intern makes mistakes. The important thing is neither to make the same mistakes twice nor to make a whole bunch of mistakes all… — Samuel Shem Copy Share Image
There is no body cavity that cannot be reached with a number fourteen needle and a good strong arm. — Samuel Shem Copy Share Image
“I found myself thinking of Potts as a tragic figure, a guy who'd been a happy towheaded kid you'd love to take fishing with you, who'd mistakenly invested in academic medicine when he'd have been happy in his family business, and who'd become a splattered mess on the parking lot of a hospital in a city he'd despised. What had… — Samuel Shem Copy Share
“Life's like a penis; When it's soft you can't beat it; When it's hard you get screwed. - The Fat Man, Medical Resident in… — Samuel Shem Copy Share Image
