As a general rule, no man has a right to tell another by word or look that he is going to die.

It may be necessary in some extreme cases; but as a rule, it is the last extreme of impertinence which one human being can offer to another.

"You have killed me," said a patient once to a physician who had rashly told him he was incurable.

He ought to have lived six months, but he was dead in six' weeks.

If we will only let Nature and the God of Nature alone, persons will commonly learn their condition as early as they ought to know it, and not be cheated out of their natural birthright of hope of recovery, which is intended to accompany sick people as long as life is comfortable, and is graciously replaced by the hope of heaven, or at least of rest, when life has become a burden which the bearer is ready to let fall.
Underbred people tease their sick and dying friends to death.