When physicians swear in an oath, they must promise to "do no harm" to their patients; however, can a physician sustain their allegiance and actually "do not harm" to a dying patient who desires death? In the essay, "A Crime of Compassion," the author, Barbara Huttmann, speaks of how she, as a nurse, witnessed the deterioration of one particular cancer patient, Mac. In addition, she explains how she did nothing to prevent his death because she failed to comply with the initiation of the "code blue" order, which calls for resuscitation to the patient. Huttmann chose an undesirable, yet necessary, alternative of death for her terminally ill patient. In discussion of Huttmann's choice, she prevented further intolerable pain upon her patient and also indicated that a patient has the right to die, however, is not withheld true in all cases.
             Given the circumstances of Mac's unstable condition, Huttmann's choice was undesirable, yet considered necessary. In paragraph three, Huttmann shockingly states: "We resuscitated him 52 times in just one month. I refused to resuscitate him again." Her statement declares the act of resuscitation to be unpleasant. The act of resuscitation levied physical torture upon Mac's feeble 60-pound, skeletal-like body and also placed an immeasurable amount of emotional instability upon his family. So forth, Huttmann's choice enabled Mac to die a peaceful death, a longing greatly desired, without the need for further resuscitation. Furthermore, Huttmann's choice was acceptable, under the given circumstances, because she brought a sense of relief to Mac and his family.
             Huttmann's chosen alternative of death for her patient indicates that terminally ill patients have the right to die. She implies the reasoning that a terminally ill patient should not be forced to endure the agony of pain and miser
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