Up until fairly recently, men and women accepted sickness and suffering as inevitable features of life in this fallen world. They would have agreed with the words of D. A. Carson who said, 'All we have to do is to live long enough, and we will suffer.' However, in more recent times, wonderful medical advances together with a major change in outlook have led many to think not only that they now have the capacity to rid themselves of all sickness and suffering, but also that they have the right to a long and happy life.