This ethical dilemma applies to the novel because through out Patrick’s story the doctors are trying to decide if it is worth trying to save him. Everyone knows that Patrick’s time is limited so they question how much they should do to try and stop the unstoppable. Many times in the book the doctors ask themselves if it is worth it to put Patrick in so much pain when it will only fix things for a very short amount of time. The doctors knew that there wasn’t much hope for Patrick. “Patrick is a dying child...we treat him like he’ll beat the odds because he always does, but it’s time we face the fact that he is a dying boy” (pg. 43). This example from the book shows that the doctors know they are pushing too hard and putting this boy through
