This freedom of choice, Gawande states, ultimately imposes a burden on either the doctor or the patient, because the patient ultimately chooses a treatment that is ultimately harmful, as in the case of Lazaroff. , a patient who only has a few weeks to live, but instead insists on “the day he would return to work”. Despite the dire risks and limited potential benefits described by the neurosurgeon, Lazaroff continued to opt for surgery and ultimately died in painful pain following the operation. Gawande suggests that Lazaroff "chose poorly because his choice went against his deepest interests", which was to live despite the time remaining in his briefing, ultimately distorting his judgment by choosing treatment that ultimately ended to his life in a much more painful way. Another case of patient decisions cited by Gawande was that of Mr. Howe, who aggressively refused to be put on a ventilator, neglecting the fact that "with antibiotics and high-tech support...he would make a full recovery." As Gawande and K waited for Mrs. Howe's decision to save her husband's life, Mrs. Howe broke down emotionally.