Before he went home, he was counseled about his pain management plan and assured that there was no circumstance in which he would suffer for more than a very short time.
Mr. B still talked about suicide when asked by a member of his palliative care team, but he no longer brought up the subject.
He said that his feelings hadn't changed but that he felt more confident that he wouldn't have to turn to suicide, Dr. Byock said.
He died at home in hospice care several months after he was discharged.