In Leo Tolstoy's famous novella The Death of Ivan Ilyich, the title character is suddenly struck down by a terminal illness. In his dying days, he screams in agony and rails against his misfortune, blind to the fact that he has lived a selfish life, putting his career before his wife and children. In his last hours he finally gives in to his fate and becomes reconciled to his family.
The story is cited in a recent paper by the Lancet which addresses the controversial issue of pain control in terminally-ill patients. The article says there is such a thing as a “good death” and the desire, especially among relatives to control pain whatever the cost, can have unintended consequences. Chief among these is that many dying patients do not get a chance to make their farewells at the end of life because they are too sedated. Irish Times
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