Roger C. Bone

Roger C. Bone, a physician who was dying of cancer at the time the following viewpoint was written, offers several suggestions to assist the terminally ill in planning out the rest of their lives. Bone advises dying people to accept help from family and friends and to be assertive in defining wants and needs. He also encourages patients to become informed about their illness and to take advantage of resources and services provided by the health care community.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. In Bone’s opinion, why should terminally ill patients seek a second opinion about their condition?
2. For what reasons are terminally ill patients hospitalized, according to the author?
3. According to Bone, what kinds of nonmedical services do most...