The tragic death of a South Charleston doctor leaves many shaking their heads.
Kanawha County deputies say Dr. Bruce Foster and his wife were found dead in their Cross Lanes home Monday, both dead of a single gunshot wound to the head. Investigators say it appears to be a murder-suicide.
It’s an ironic death for a man who spent much of his life attempting to stem the prolonged suffering of others.
“It’s hard for me to imagine him dying the way he did with his great concern for excellent pain and symptom management at the end of life,” said Dr. Alvin Moss at the West Virginia Center for End of Life Care. “I”m shocked and I’m saddened.”
Foster was a general practitioner in the Kanawha Valley and according to Moss had a keen interest in medical ethics and end of life care.
“He took a special interest in ethics and end of life care,” Moss said. “He was an advocate for having patients talk to their families about the types of treatments they would or would not know at the end of life and to put those wishes into writing so they could be respected.”
Moss served in an advisory role to the West Virginia Center for End of Life Care when it was first established and helped in the required training of physicians needing to certify with a certain level of end of life training.
“He was just a delightful guy to talk to. He had a jovial manner, always had good stories to tell, he was one of those guys with a twinkle in his eye and a cheery smile,” Moss said. “It’s interesting he really loved his father and learned a lot about death and dying from experiences with his father’s death.”
Police say a revolver was in Dr. Foster’s hand when their bodies were found. A firearms trace is being conducted and detectives are awaiting the results of that trace to determine ownership of the gun.
According to police, no suicide note or similar instrument was found at the residence. A possible motive has not been released as the investigation continues.
What prompted Dr. Foster’s untimely demise may never be known.
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Comments
Larry
If he did indeed murder his wife, he was not ethical, he did the one thing a doctor is not supoosed to do, harm.
February 20, 2013 at 7:54 am | Report comment
Lisa
Dr. Foster and his wife were wonderful people. I believe if he did do this it had to be out of love for his wife. Maybe she had a terminal illness and was suffering. He just could not live without her.
February 20, 2013 at 1:34 pm | Report comment
Diana
Dear Lisa, I agree 100%. You must have known them. Anyone that did know them, even though we are sad they are gone. We know they could not go on without each other!
February 20, 2013 at 10:15 pm | Report comment
Lisa S.
Dr. Foster was a great man and a great doctor! His wife was ill and if he did do this it was for his love for her. I have never seen a man love a woman as much as he loved his wife! He will be GREATLY missed by many!
February 21, 2013 at 8:40 pm | Report comment
Larry
You are not a great man if you kill your wife, and yourself, for whatever reason, you people are terrible character judges.
February 25, 2013 at 7:45 am | Report comment
Sue
Dr. Foster was my doctor when I lived in St. Albans years ago. I wished he could have moved here to the eastern panhandle when I moved back. I thought the world of him. I did not know him or his wife as well as some commenting on here do but the way Dr. Moss described him is exactly as I knew him to be. I have thought of him often over the years and of some of the stories he told me, some of which gave me a chuckle.
I heard him being interviewed on PBS radio a few years ago and I recorded it. I'm so glad I did. I ordered his book that he had written called Death and Dying, and he signed it to me. I am so sad about the death of both of them.
As for you Larry, I doubt if anyone will ever show such fondness or have such nice remembrances of you because if your comments are any example of what you are like, you are, at the very least, judgemental and lacking in compassion. People who are like that are usually very unloving people in general, unlike Dr. Foster, who I'm sure will be fondly remembered and missed for many years to come.
March 8, 2013 at 9:49 pm | Report comment
Robin
Was a good Dr. who treated my mother and helped her when she had cancer. He treated me once too. He was a great Dr. Iam sure he had his reasons for doing what he did and it might have been out of love. He will be missed I am sure.
February 25, 2013 at 9:57 am | Report comment
Sue
I would like to add that Dr. Foster gave me help and support during one of the most devastating times in my life and I will never forget it.
Whatever his reason for doing what he did, it is between him and the Lord, but I feel certain that it was probably what someone else on here said, that it was a mercy killing and that he couldn't live without her.
March 8, 2013 at 10:21 pm | Report comment
Teresa
To Bruce and Marlise. I will miss you both and I will pray that the lord will help you bruce,you were a terrific doctor and friend.May god be with you, Marlise hope you are enjoying heaven,no pain,tears or worries anymore.
March 18, 2013 at 9:39 pm | Report comment