Death is not always the main concern of the dying person. Dependency, isolation, pain, physical disfigurement, and fear of abandonment are among the issues that are sometimes as threatening, if not more so, than impending death. Awareness of the relevance of these factors, can improve the interactions between the dying patient and the doctor, nurse, family, social worker, etc. Therefore, the question that should concern us is not how long a patient shall live, but: What level of well-being is compatible with continued life?
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