I had to make the decision to stop medical intervention and start palliative care for my 92-year-old father. He had developed an infection, exacerbated by poor

I had to make the decision to stop medical intervention and start palliative care for my 92-year-old father. He had developed an infection, exacerbated by poor circulation and a reluctance to seek medical care. He was hospitalized, given massive amounts of antibiotics, and rallied it a bit. They told us he might be able to go home if he could get around on his own. He was sent to a rehab center but soon declined without the hospital's level of care and was re-hospitalized. This happened a few times, the rally was less each time. Finally, it was impossible to ignore the reality of what was happening despite the doctors' willingness to keep going. He had explicit instructions regarding end-of-life care but my mom couldn't make the decision so I had to. The hospital set up a quiet private room for him and he slipped away quietly in the night before he could be moved to hospice. I totally understand families not wanting to give up but you have to ask "who are you doing it for, yourselves or them?"