TY - JOUR T1 - How to die — a physician's last lesson JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 894 LP - 894 VL - 56 IS - 532 AU - Sureshini Sanders Y1 - 2006/11/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/56/532/894.abstract N2 - My father was a big man, in more ways than one! He was my mentor, guide and friend, on a personal and professional level. The last lesson he taught me, was how to die. There has been much in the BMJ and press lately on death, care of the elderly, concerns about patient choice and dignity. My father chose a low tech, minimal intervention, home death. He and death had a long relationship. He knew death intimately, as a retired geriatrician and because he had cheated death already.He had a cerebral haemorrhage 13 years before, when he was working flat out as a consultant. He had a massive insult to his brain and his case notes recorded ‘no CPR’, with our agreement. On that occasion he won the battle and walked out of hospital 8 weeks later to spar another day. Life was not easy after this event but he and my mother managed independently, travelled abroad extensively and saw five grandchildren, who were a delight to him.In December last year death visited him again. He developed a chest infection that seemed to respond to antibiotics but then returned with right sided pleuritic pain. He conceded to further investigation. Our local chest physician was wonderful and … ER -