[dighton]

The noted English surgeon, Joseph Henry Green, passed away in 1863. Just before the end he looked at his doctor, pointed to his heart, said “Congestion,” then counted his own pulse, remarked “Stopped,” and died.

— Clifton Fadiman, Some Passing Remarks on Some Passing Remarks.

[AnAmericanMother]

Well, THAT was a classy exit.

There'll always be an England . . .

[Billthedrill]

Personally I've always preferred General John Sedgwick's last words "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist-".

But sometimes the patient really IS fine - I was bundled off in an ambulance from an annual physical one time because I'd neglected to tell a new doctor about a heart abnormality that turned up on an ECG. Had a stress test and an angioscope over the next couple of weeks. Clean bill of health. It was nice to learn and an interesting experience but I could have done without the drama. Best thing you can do under the circumstances is whatever the Docs say. That's always good advice unless the fellow's name is Kevorkian.

[aculeus]

Great post.