US doctor comforts patients in last days

Doctor, teacher, friend

In the village, where people speak an obscure dialect, Miller is known as "Lao Mei".

He speaks with everyone, but especially those near death, in a friendly, conversational way－like a counselor or friend. He tries to calm the minds of the dying and settle their spirits. He holds their frail hands gently as he gives soft instructions and advice. He feels their pain in an intimate, personal way.

Wearing a brown T-shirt with a slogan on the back－"Start a conversation"－Miller presents an unconventional picture of a doctor. He loves to practice calligraphy in his spare time and occasionally demonstrates baduanjin qigong, a set of traditional Chinese fitness exercises whose roots reach back 800 years. He teaches some of the movements to patients who are able, or he plucks a string instrument to cheer them up.

But sometimes he struggles to make sense of life and death as he talks with patients whose lives are ending, especially the younger ones.

"I feel very sad about it, but I know there's nothing else we can do," he said.

At such times, a small group meeting with his wife and social workers will be convened in their workroom to vent the emotion.