title: Sisyphus and the triumphs of medicine.
abstract: Because they wage a losing battle against death, all physicians resemble Sisyphus, eternally condemned to perform an impossible task. Yet like him, physicians must realize that the small successes they can achieve while contending against destiny are what count.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peschel
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peschel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009229:Mythology; D011379:Prognosis; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology