Box 2.

—Attitudes to death

Seeking to prolong life

“It’ll give me a couple of extra years.” (Patient 26, aged 82, started warfarin.)

“I want to prolong my life as long as possible.” (Patient 120, aged 90, started warfarin.)

Accepting death

“Life’s precious, in for a penny, in for a pound. It will eventually happen and I’d rather go as naturally as possible.” (Patient 128, aged 90, declined warfarin.)

“Here you are trying to extend the life of an aged person, it’s illogical.” (Patient 108, aged 86, declined any treatment.)