I have long wondered how this situation can be improved. I have concluded that physicians should periodically admit their limitations frankly, sadly, honestly even if such admission contradicts their training and challenges their identity as physicians. Of course not. Physicians are invaluable to dying patients and their families. But, by acknowledging limits on their medications and technical skills, physicians can focus on their other roles as healers and open themselves to far more meaningful and rewarding care.
Every person wants to live well, and every person wants to die well.
Physicians should therefore not ask people to choose between doing everything and doing nothing. Instead, physicians should ask people to discover what doing everything truly is. I therefore very much appreciate Dr. Knudsen's comments and any discussion on this topic that my essay has encouraged. The Editors welcome submissions for possible publication in the Letters section. Only some of the letters received can be published.