Families, strangers, and those most alone: Insights from cultures, including our own

In this introduction to this issue of The Journal of Clinical Ethics (JCE), I will discuss the legacy of our recently departed friend and colleague, Edmund D. Pellegrino, MD. In this light, I will discuss three articles in this issue of the journal that provide insight into the cultures of China, Mexico, and the U.S., and propose alternative approaches for careproviders in the U.S. to include in their practice as they work with patients and family members at the end of life.