“When dealing with human being facing suffering, the doctors develop their sensitivity, deeply understanding their patient’s concerns and pains, exceeding the limits imposed by their scientific nature. On the other hand, their profession also provides them with the experience comprising the noblest and most beautiful feature of human beings: the compassion for their fellows. In his book, Edilson Pinheiro Nogueira gathers the stories of the doctors’ everyday, when interacting with their patients in a fun and sensitive way. Collected mainly in his region, these tales give us a taste of the Northeastern people’s steadfast character and unbreakable spirit before all the vicissitudes in their rough ground. It is a pleasure to present “Histórias que os Médicos não Contam”, a light and enjoyable reading”.

Rio de Janeiro, July 2004

Ivo Pitanguy
Full professor in the Graduate Degree course in Plastic Surgery, of PUC-Rio and Instituto de Pós-Graduação Médica Carlos Chagas . Chief of the 38ª Enfermaria da Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro . Full Member of the Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica. Full Member of the Academia Nacional . Member of the Academia Brasileira de Letras .