To Treat or Not to Treat

Abstract

In this famous poem, Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore welcomes death as a natural closure to life. But how many of us possess this clarity of considering death as a natural course of life itself, particularly when we are approaching our latter half of life. In this chapter, I would like to discuss the moment that often comes during every doctor's practice and is always a difficult choice. On a busy afternoon of 16 April 2016, I received a forwarded email from our head of the department Dr. A. B Dey, who was in Toronto for an official trip: Dear Doctors, I have been informed by the Prime Minister Office that the Department of Geriatric Medicine at A.I.I.M.S is best equipped (with dedicated beds for 80 plus patients) to look into my concern regarding the below-mentioned case: O thou the last fulfillment of life, Death, my death, come and whisper to me! Day after day I have kept watch for thee; for thee have I borne the joys and pangs of life. All that I am, that I have, that I hope, and all my love has ever flowed towards thee in depth of secrecy. One final glance from thine eyes and my life will be ever thine own. The flowers have been woven and the garland is ready for the bridegroom. After the wedding, the bride shall leave her home and meet her lord alone in the solitude of night [1]. Noble laureate Rabindranath Tagore