As has been pointed out in the pages of this journal before by Roshni Chinoy, the ethical problems that most clinicians are affected by in daily practice do not arise in the routine of pathologists. We do not have to worry about DNR (Do not resuscitate ) orders, or about "pulling the plug ", to mention only two of a host of problems. However, this does not prevent us from discussing such problems with our colleagues. When we express our views on such things, some like to point out the irony of solutions being offered by those who do not have to do the real-life thing. It's like teaching swimming while standing outside the pool.