>What of a white lie to protect the feelings of a loved one, lying to tell someone who is about to die something good If you choose to do that, it might be the

>What of a white lie to protect the feelings of a loved one, lying to tell someone who is about to die something good If you choose to do that, it might be the right thing, but it also might be the most monstrous thing you ever did, and nobody will ever tell you because it's not socially acceptable. Some (but not all) doctors will falsely tell a terminal cancer patient she is recovering and not tell anyone this is a "white lie". A doctor that does that may never get any feedback on how horrific it can be to be deceived like that. Some other doctor is honest, and nobody has time to educate the younger man, he may change eventually. Conscience is a shortcut to relative peace of mind when you can't pretend it's possible to analyze a situation fully or satisfy everyone. Oliver Cromwell once said (and never mind the context): "I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, to think it possible you may be mistaken"... And from Maus: "Yes, life always takes the side of life, and somehow the victims are blamed..."