Case conference. Earning his heroin but seeking release while the surgeon advises amputation

doi:10.1136/jme.13.1.43

. 1987 Mar;13(1):43–48. doi: 10.1136/jme.13.1.43

Case conference. Earning his heroin but seeking release while the surgeon advises amputation.

PMCID: PMC1375408 PMID: 3572993

Abstract

A man aged 80 years presented with painful ischaemia (inadequate blood supply) affecting his left lower leg. There was no effective medical treatment. The surgeons recommended amputation. The patient refused, in spite of suffering severe pain for fifteen months, because he wished to die, and he tried to bring this about by various means.