This month G2 published my essay How Doctors Choose to Die, on how physicians make different end-of-life choices than their patients. Some of the 165 readers who commented online raised issues that had haunted them for decades: "You articulated something which has given me a lot of peace about decisions taken about my gran when she died," wrote criddy1979.
"Arthur's opinion was that he wouldn't want that sort of life," added DeeSorderly. "So he spent his final six months having a great time, putting things in order (literally — we have lots of boxes of screws all neatly labeled), and finally said goodbye, waited for everyone to leave, and died."
chocksaway wrote: "She said to us very weakly, 'I've just had enough, please will you let me go?' To my shame I said, 'No Mum we want you with us. You'll be fine.' [Now] she has little quality of life and I often think she is alive because of my own selfishness."
Fellow doctors also commented here and elsewhere, including AM: "My grandfather, who had untreatable cancer, asked for my advice. I suggested he stay at home, gather his family, and enjoy the days that remained to him. I think it was the best advice I ever gave."
I have read all the comments and such invitations to see into readers' intimate experiences with death are remarkable gifts of trust.
