He died of a major infection - a sad way to die. So what should responsible persons do when confronted with the necessity of such an enormous decision? What it all comes down to is common sense. For the 30 years I have been a doctor, and for hundreds of years before that, doctors and families have been quietly cooperating to decide what is best for a patient in the final phase of an illness. In 95% of the cases a sympathetic, reasonable decision can be made after appropriate discussion. In 5% of cases where such a judgment cannot immediately be reached, the proper decision will become apparent after a few days or weeks of basic treatment, observing the patient's progress.