RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Mourning My Patient, Mr Schwartz
JF The Annals of Family Medicine
JO Ann Fam Med
FD American Academy of Family Physicians
SP 460
OP 462
DO 10.1370/afm.2710
VO 19
IS 5
A1 Kannai, Ruth
A1 Alon, Aya Rice
YR 2021
UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/19/5/460.abstract
AB The story depicts my close relationship with Mr Schwartz, an elderly Holocaust survivor, spanning over 20 years. During those years, he became a significant patient to me; during my many home visits, we often shared significant conversations about life. When Mr Schwartz was diagnosed at age 90 with advanced cancer, we made an alliance whereby I would represent him in his decision not to receive medical interventions. For the next 4 years until his death, Mr Schwartz pleaded with me to kill him, which I could not do either legally or morally.Over the years; I was moved by his honesty, frustrated at my inability to offer him relief or a sense of meaning, and pensive, as I would inevitably reflect on existential issues pertaining to myself and my dear ones. Mourning his loss was complex, for I was very close to him, yet not a part of his family. With whom can we physicians share our sadness at the loss of a person with whom we never actually spent a holiday or family dinner?