How Doctors Choose to Die: Insights for Medical Professionals and Patients Contrary to the common perception that doctors treat critically ill patients with detachment, many medical professionals often go to great lengths, sometimes more than reasonable, to try to save lives. This approach is partly driven by the expectations of patients' relatives, who often insist on doing everything possible. An intensivist explains, “Resuscitation or CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) looks nothing like what we see on TV. In real life, ribs often break, and few survive the ordeal. I felt like I was beating up people at the end of their life. I would be doing the CPR with tears coming down sometimes, and saying, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry, goodbye.' Because I knew that it very likely was not going to be successful. It just seemed a terrible way to end someone's life." Doctors fall ill and die just like anyone else. Despite their extensive knowledge about the body, diseases, and treatments, their life expectancy is not significantly different from the general population. What is striking, however, is the disparity between the treatments they administer to patients and those they choose for themselves. Dr. Ken Murray, in his revealing article “How Doctors Choose to Die,” notes that doctors often avoid advanced and intensive therapies for themselves. When diagnosed with advanced cancer, for instance, they are more likely to refuse chemotherapy and instead opt to spend quality time at home. This decision is likely influenced by their firsthand experience of the adverse effects and limited benefits of such treatments. Doctors frequently reject aggressive terminal care treatments. They understand the inevitable outcomes and have witnessed the physical and emotional toll of futile medical interventions. They know what all people fear most: dying in pain and dying alone. Modern medicine has its limits, and doctors are acutely aware of this. They have seen “futile care” performed, where patients are subjected to invasive procedures, hooked up to machines, and overwhelmed with medications, often without significant improvement. Some may accuse doctors of double standards, advising one course of action for patients while choosing another for themselves. However, the key factor here is the expectation of relatives. When a patient becomes critically ill, especially an elderly patient with a terminal disease, relatives often insist on exhaustive measures. In our litigious and judgmental society, doctors feel compelled to pursue all possible treatments. This approach can provide solace to family members, who feel they have done everything they could for their loved ones. However, this can lead to dehumanizing terminal treatment: patients surrounded by strangers, hooked to machines, their bodies punctured by numerous tubes, and devoid of the comfort of familiar, loving faces in their final moments. Understanding these insights can help medical professionals and patients make more informed and compassionate decisions about end-of-life care, balancing the desire to prolong life with the need for dignity and quality in the final days. #EndOfLifeCare #MedicalEthics #DoctorsPerspective #PatientCare #HealthcareChoices #QualityOfLife #HospiceCare #MedicalDecisions #CompassionInMedicine #DrSureshKPandeyKota #SuViEyeHospitalKota #DrVidushiSharma #SuViEyeHospitalLasikLaserCenterKota