"cancer is the best death"

[drnm]

blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2014/12/3...

[sumeet_shah Administrator]

drnm, thanks for sharing. Richard Smith has written a very different view, worth reading. Though I do not agree with him.

[Richa25]

This in itself has raked up quite a debate...newspapers are quoting from just a part of this blog and that sure does sound harsh...but read like this...it makes so mych sense...thanks for sharing

Happy New Year All

Richa

[kontak TeamBCI in reply to Richa25]

Its easy to read and say but very very tough to say - Cancer is the best death. Not all can say like this

[greenbear]

Richard Smith has presented a different perspective. Not all can think that way.

[Lamchee]

One has no idea as to what the face of cancer death is if one does not take treatment.There is gradual loss in fat & muscles till such time,the skin sticks to bones &your skeleton is visible without x-ray.

Better to take treatment &die in ICUs.

[roxboxfox RadiationOncologist]

I ve been through various doctors`international and mumbai forums on this TOI article and the consensus is that

This is a free world, Richard Smith is free to express his views, but most oncology doctors who have substantial experience in caring for the terminally ill patients, certainly do not view things as he does, and many wonder , as to how did this article get so much publicity and hype....

and as said earlier, it is just a simple message which is easier said than experienced in real life.

Death to different people mean different things...

Death of a 6 year old boy believe me is not the same for a death of a 80 year old.

There are different virtues, expectations, and spiritual and holistic needs for these 2 different subset of patients.

Death for a old widow Vs death of a actively working women with 2 young children is not the same again and so on..

The mode of death in cancer can also vary widely varying from death in sleep /coma *cardiac cause, to one of death from uncontrolled bleeding, pain and suffering.

One thing which all doctors learn in as per the hippocratic oath, is

......cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always.

[roxboxfox RadiationOncologist]

I ve been through various doctors`international and mumbai forums on this TOI article and the consensus is that

This is a free world, Richard Smith is free to express his views, but most oncology doctors who have substantial experience in caring for the terminally ill patients, certainly do not view things as he does, and many wonder , as to how did this article get so much publicity and hype....

and as said earlier, it is just a simple message which is easier said than experienced in real life.

Death to different people mean different things...

Death of a 6 year old boy believe me is not the same for a death of a 80 year old.

There are different virtues, expectations, and spiritual and holistic needs for these 2 different subset of patients.

Death for a old widow Vs death of a actively working women with 2 young children is not the same again and so on..

The mode of death in cancer can also vary widely varying from death in sleep /coma *cardiac cause, to one of death from uncontrolled bleeding, pain and suffering.

One thing which all doctors learn in as per the hippocratic oath, is

......cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always.

[greenbear]

yes doctor you have said it all. let us think of life and not death.