I had a philosophy teacher in high school who said that if you want to be truly happy you need to accept your death. He was a cool teacher and all but it wasn't like he was some kind of awe inspiring font of wisdom but for some reason that bit really stuck with me. I believe that I am unafraid of my own death. I still fear pain and the pain which my death would bring my family. It saddens me to think that if I die I would not get to see my daughter grow up or have whatever aid and wisdom I might give her and how my wife would cope (just thinking about not getting to know my daughter as an adult makes me tear up), but I never fret about the fact that some day that which is me will be entirely gone. maybe the fear I feel for my family is my fear of death but I certainly feel no resentment at the fact I will end.

As far as the nobility of medicine. If it weren't for antibiotics I'd be dead today. I got bit on the hand by a cat a few years back and if it weren't for antibiotics I'd be lucky if my nickname was "stumpy".

I've seen lots of terrible psychiatrist, my family is plagued by mental illness, but I can't say that things would have been worse for many of my family members without it, a few were even better off.

When my father in law was dying of cancer he was overcome by fear and worry about his death. After he had a few sessions with a psychiatrist and end of life councilor he was able to face his death with sad resignation (which sounds pretty grim but it was actually a great comfort to him and his daughters). With out the intercession of mental health professionals I think that his final weeks would have been incredibly more painful on him and my whole family, I am truly grateful for their intercession.