A matter of life and death

It's an occupational hazard that both in training and during our working lives we will often be exposed to death. As house officers we can expect to certify patients, in accident and emergency we may lose patients. For aspiring pathologists death and mortality will be our daily bread. In fact, none of us are likely to escape some experience of death in our chosen profession.

I found myself considering my own death, perhaps for the first time in my life, when I went to my local hospice for a two week placement. I didn't know what to expect but thought that I would gain a useful insight into dealing with death.

It took me a while to register that all of the patients were dying. Of course there were some who were visibly very ill and looked to be near the end. However, there were others who seemed to me to be so full of life. I can't think of another …