Lessons from a Dying Patient

Last week in the Wall Street Journal's online column, The Doctor's Office, Benjamin Brewer, MD writes about lessons he learned from a dying patient. Dr. Brewer has a family practice in the rural village of Forrest, Ill. There were also follow-up questions answered in the WSJ forums.

Even though death is an inevitable part of the human condition, it's not something that most doctors, including me, ever get too comfortable with. We get used to pushing it off until another day.

When death is approaching, the natural tendency is to avoid situations that are uncomfortable, emotionally detach, visit less often, fill our time with something that seems more productive.

It's during those times when I remind myself to slow down, sit down and listen. What I have to offer when there is nothing more that medicine can do is some comfort and companionship.