Dr. Leanne Rorish:  When I was in med school , back in the dark ages , the received wisdom was , it 's never a good idea to treat your own family members . It 's easier in theory than in practice , and everybody does it eventually , especially for the small stuff . And in extreme situations , like the one you 're in right now , you have no choice . You 're the only _ one _ , who can help her . The tragedy is ... when you 're absolutely the finest , most skilled doctor there is , and , you have to turn them over to people less skilled than you . So you 're lucky , your mother is lucky , because there is no - one , anywhere , better equipped to save her , than you ! You have the opportunity to do what I could n't do with my own family . I envy you that . So , do n't waste it questioning yourself . You know what to do .