Guide Decisions Near the End of Life

Case Description

Norman Smellie, who has always told his doctor that he wants everything possible done to stay alive, has begun to refuse some treatments. His sister, Phyllis, Norman's health care proxy, faces a great deal of uncertainty about how to proceed with his care. Watch the video and explore resources for conversations around end-of-life care.

The time near the end of life can be full of uncertainty for patients and for families. For most people with life-limiting illnesses, the line between "living" and "dying" can be hard to define. We can live for many months -- even years -- with diseases that were once immediately fatal. So living with a serious illness also means living with a great deal of doubt and confusion.