In this story by R. K. Narayan, a doctor renowned for telling patients the truth, even if the news is bad, faces a dilemma. A seriously ill close friend asks for a prognosis, saying that if he is dying he must finalize his will to protect his wife and children. The doctor doesn’t think he will survive the night, and is concerned that the shock of hearing this will kill him. He must choose between telling the truth, or lying to give is friend hope and a small chance of survival. Themes include truthfulness, friendship, faith, hope, choices and consequences.
The story highlights an important medical ethics issue. It is generally frowned upon for doctors to treat family and close friends unless in an emergency. The major reason for this is the risk of losing objectivity. Narayan cleverly illustrates this point through introduction of will into the story. In the absence of the will, the doctor’s lie could do no harm. In telling his friend that he will definitely live and there is no need to worry about the will, the doctor puts the man’s family at risk of “endless misery”.
Original Text / PDF / Audio (1,950 words)