Thanks Bebe for another thought-provoking article. Religious people need to be more open about their approach to death, which can so easily be relegated to the abstract until it actually confronts us. The case of Cassandra is a fascinating one and reminds me of the huge ethical issues around Jehovah Witnesses refusing blood transfusions, even on behalf of their children etc. For me, I have always believed that the decision for treatment is personal, based on the honest advice of those who specialise in its administration and outcomes. The only thing which should be guaranteed is effective palliative care and sadly, that is not always the case. In this day and age, in Western society at least, there is no excuse for dying or making important decisions whilst in severe pain.