stories to influence the discussion came not from our clinical practice, but from fiction: Leo Tolstoy's novella The Death of Ivan Ilyich. This literary account of the final thoughts and experiences of a dying man prompted reflection about suffering and the power and limits of medicine.

Tolstoy's Ivan Ilyich is a middle-aged prosecutor in 19th-century St Petersburg who spends increasing amounts of his time climbing the social ladder, to the detriment of his already poor relationships with his wife and children. He develops a protracted, painful condition, the diagnosis of which eludes his physicians. When the doctors and others around him ultimately realise the severity of his condition, they lie to him about its terminal nature. A spiritually empty man, Ivan Ilyich's lingering demise forces him to confront theCOOMA: Parts of the Monaro were transformed into a winter wonderland on Friday as heavy snowfalls provided a picturesque start to the day. This photo was taken at Kybeyan by Kristy Nichols.

COOMA: Cooma's Josh Alford will compete in the Commonwealth Games this Saturday in the 200 metre multiclass s14 race.

COOMA: Cooma's Michael John Horneman has released his debut single 'What we've found'.

COOTAMUNDRA: Decent rain over the past month has soaked Country Club Oval with the boys coping with large puddles on the playing surface on Saturday. It is nothing they are not used to and Coota stepped up to the challenge of the muddy playing surface and slippery ball well. Photo: Cootamundra Herald

COOTAMUNDRA: League supporters (from left) Jeff Bristow, Stephen Howse and David Earnshaw enjoy Old Boys Day.