[Suzi]

I would be VERY surprised if surgery was performed without the patient knowing what his choices were. No doctor I know would EVER do surgery (even if needed) without discussing what would happen without the surgery. My extensive experience shows that patients, faced with quick death without surgery, will opt to try for a little more time having surgery. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. In the case of your friend, you do not know how much time he had if he had not had the surgery. I am sure this was explained to him and his family and the choice was made between him and his loved ones. Surgery is not without risks but neither is leaving a brain tumor in place.