Dr Felicia Chang, the healing angel

Dr Felicia Chang belongs to that special group of doctors whose sole responsibility is to help cancer patients live the last days of their life in comfort, and to die with dignity. Photos: The Star/Haziq Azimi

When a doctor shows compassion and offers words of comfort, it can be a great source of hope and healing, even when there is no cure.

The aphorism “To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always,” comes to mind. Empathising can be hard work, as it requires doctors to go the extra mile, be vulnerable and face the limitations of science and technology.