The issue is complicated, to say the least. A few years ago, a patient of mine with fifteen major medical problems, including a form of leukemia, decided he didn’t ever want to return to the hospital, do chemotherapy, or try any of other treatments we discussed. But, for weeks after that, he railed and fumed at the prospect of palliative care, because he also wanted very badly to live. He wanted to live—just not in the hospital, with poisons in his blood. He was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. His was a reasoned and reasonable stance

The issue is complicated, to say the least. A few years ago, a patient of mine with fifteen major medical problems, including a form of leukemia, decided he didn’t ever want to return to the hospital, do chemotherapy, or try any of other treatments we discussed. But, for weeks after that, he railed and fumed at the prospect of palliative care, because he also wanted very badly to live. He wanted to live—just not in the hospital, with poisons in his blood. He was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. His was a reasoned and reasonable stance