The Article in Brief

Boy Scouts for Henry

Richard E. Allen, MD, MPH

Background A resident physician tells the story of an elderly patient who was kept alive beyond his wishes. He reflects on how the experience shaped his perception of the role of physicians in end-of-life care, suggesting that to fight illness at all cost and prolong life with no quality may be as wrong as assisting in their death. The author contends that patients often need the help and permission of their physicians to die.