Cancer is the best way to die because it allows people to have the chance to say goodbye without having a long-tiring death, doctor and former editor of the British Medical Journal said in a blog post for the BMJ.
Dr. Richard Smith claimed that there are four ways to die: sudden death, organ failure, cancer and dementia.
Smith, who is the board chair of Patients Know Best, said that everyone should stop spending billions on finding the cure for cancer and let everything proceed naturally. He said it is the best option for the ageing population.
In his blog, he wrote that he thinks this type of death is "romantic", but claimed that the pain of dying can be more bearable through love, morphine and whisky. Other people would rather die from sudden death; Smith said that even if the person prefers that way, his family and friends will be left traumatized. Many problems might arise like finances and relationships not organized well before death.
He added, dementia is very slow and the duration is so long. It would be more painful and difficult for both the person and his family. Subsequently, organ failure would leave the person hospitalized most of the time until he eventually dies.
He believes that deaths related to cancer allows an opportunity to bid goodbye to their loved ones and they can even leave their final messages. They can also organize everything and put things in order before they pass away.
Meanwhile, Cancer Research UK says that Dr. Smith's comments are pessimistic and negativistic. Also, he did not mind the young people who die early because of cancer. Families of cancer patients point out that his comments were insensitive.
Dr. Smith quoted Spanish filmmaker Luis Bunuel that said patients who have cancer suffer from "horrible death, kept at bay by the miracles of modern medicine." Smith added, "Death from cancer is the best, the closest to the death that Bunuel wanted and had."
Lastly, he says patients can say goodbye, reflect on their lives, leave last messages, visit places for the last time, listen to their favorite music and prepare everything before they enjoy eternal oblivion.