But the Patient Lived

"But the Patient Lived" by Harry Warner Jr. is a science fiction story set in a future that presents difficult choices for doctors as people live much longer, causing society to rethink what life and death mean. Dr. Walter Needzak is at the center of the narrative, and he is a physician wrestling with the challenging job of healing in a setting where prolonging life is questioned. As Dr. Needzak cares for different patients like an older couple wanting to escape their old age and a young woman thinking she has a tumor, he faces difficult moral questions. He acts against his patients' wishes, strongly believing that his purpose is to preserve life by any means necessary. However, the drastic measures he employs eventually backfire, and he is scrutinized by questioning colleagues because his medical practices violate long-standing ethical codes. The tale explores themes of life and death and examines the roles of doctors when society is questioning healthcare assumptions.