Treatment of the Terminally III

Abstract

To the Editor.— Once again, the issues of mercy, supportive v curative therapy, and therapeutic restraint for the inadequately defined "terminally ill" patient arise, this time by John A. Beall, MD, in the June 3 issue ofThe Journal(1983;249:2883). He speaks of his own daughter and indicts the attending and perhaps the consulting physicians who buoyed her hopes and instituted excessive, supportive, and heroic measures. Dr Beall asks, "Who should have the authority and courage to temper overly aggressive therapy when overwhelming evidence points to its futility?" He answers his own question by stating that "it is the physician in charge who should exercise the quality of understanding mercy for his patient." I understand the problem and can give serious consideration to his solution. However, his indictment of physicians is premature and inappropriate. As long as we believe in our current form of government and continue to respect the