Re: How would you like to die?

Issue: BCMJ, vol. 59, No. 6, July August 2017, Page 294 Letters
By: Phyllis Reeve

Thank you for Dr E.M. Wong’s sensitive review of books about death and dying [BCMJ 2017;59:235-238].

Thank you for Dr E.M. Wong’s sensitive review of books about death and dying [BCMJ 2017;59:235-238]. I found especially striking her comment, “When we cannot recommend further medical intervention, we can still offer companionship as patients gather strength to live out their remaining days in shared meaningfulness.” During the last year of my husband’s life, he enjoyed the routine visits to our family doctor. Booked as reviews of medication and tests, these were also occasions for doses of that strong medicine, which I now know is called companionship. Both physicians, neither was under any illusions about the prognosis; it was understood that they would work through it together.
—Phyllis Reeve
Gabriola, BC

Phyllis Reeve. Re: How would you like to die?. BCMJ, Vol. 59, No. 6, July, August, 2017, Page(s) 294 - Letters.


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