The Final Diagnosis is a captivating tale of life and death struggles set within the walls of a large American hospital. Joe Pearson, the chief pathologist, stands at the center of this drama. His role is pivotal as he makes the final diagnosis on every patient, and ultimately, on himself.

As changes loom over Three Counties Hospital, Dr. Kent O’Donnell, a dynamic and ambitious surgeon, takes on the challenge to modernize the institution. His efforts bring him face to face with Dr. Pearson, whose outdated methods are at odds with the hospital's new direction.

This novel, richly detailed and meticulously researched, unveils the professional, personal, and romantic challenges faced by those within the medical field. It is a place where life often begins and ends, filled with moments of joy and inevitable tragedy.

How We Die offers a profound meditation and portrait of the experience of dying. It elucidates the decisions that can be made to allow each person an understanding of death, as well as their own choice of death.

This definitive resource on perhaps the single most universal human concern—death—addresses contemporary issues in end-of-life care. It includes an all-embracing and incisive afterword that examines the current state of health care and our relationship with life as it approaches its terminus.

Sherwin Nuland's masterful work is even more relevant today, discussing how we can take control of our own final days and those of our loved ones.