---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Time was when medicine could do very…"
description: "\"Time was when medicine could do very little for critically ill or dying patients. Now it can do too much. Where to draw the line is the subject of a br..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/lisa-belkin-68190_broads_time-was-when-medicine-could-do-very-lit_1649646.jpg"
---

#  Time was when medicine could do very little for critically…

![“Time was when medicine could do very little for critically ill or dying patients. Now it can do too much. Where to draw the line is the subject of a broad, heated debate throughout the country, a debate that becomes louder with each new medical miracle or impossible case.” quote by Lisa Belkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/lisa-belkin-68190_broads_time-was-when-medicine-could-do-very-lit_1649646.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/lisa-belkin-68190_broads_time-was-when-medicine-could-do-very-lit_1649646.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/lisa-belkin-68190_broads_time-was-when-medicine-could-do-very-lit_1649646.jpg)

> “Time was when medicine could do very little for critically ill or dying patients. Now it can do too much. Where to draw the line is the subject of a broad, heated debate throughout the country, a debate that becomes louder with each new medical miracle or impossible case.”

Lisa Belkin

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Advances allow life‑prolonging care, raising ethical questions about limits and quality of life.

**In simple terms:** Medical progress creates new moral dilemmas.

Key Takeaway

Balance innovation with humane care.

Themes

ethics technology life extension

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- ICU decisions
- end‑of‑life planning
- policy debates

Key Concepts

bioethics patient autonomy

Questions to Reflect On

- When is treatment more harm than benefit?
- Who decides the line for life‑sustaining care?

A Different Perspective

May ignore patient autonomy nuances.

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