The Changing Role for Doctors

There were times in human history when people died in childhood by disease, in adulthood through war, or at any age through starvation. However, for much of the earth now, these problems do not threaten most people's lives. As a consequence, people are living much longer, and in old age they are dying slow deaths from cancer, lung diseases and heart diseases. For many years, doctors have taken the Hippocratic Oath, promising not to end …

…a quick and painless manner. A true appreciation for human life is shown by those who are greatly concerned about the quality of every person's life. Sometimes the quality of a life is greatest when it is not a life at all. When human suffering is more than can be tolerated, death is more kind than life. Doctors must be allowed to use their profession judgement and compassion is the way they think is best.