A Doctor’s Plea for Compassionate Release

Speaking of mercy, clemency, and compassion—here is a short, moving essay about a doctor and her patient.

The author is the doctor; she specializes in end-of-life care, and she seems to be an exceptionally capable and compassionate person. Two years ago, she was one of five finalists for a national nonprofit’s award to a healthcare professional who demonstrates extraordinary compassion in caring for patients and families.

So she’s one of our angels roaming the earth, and she writes eloquently in favor of the compassionate release of harmless, elderly or infirm people from prison.

People just like her patient.

How many of them do we believe deserve to die this way?

I reckon very few, indeed.