Between Family and Friendship: The Right to Care for Anna

This article opens with a personal story of caring for a friend during the last months of her life, a story that highlights significant moments when as the caregiver I had to make significant decisions. I then describe the intense disquiet provoked by having to make those decisions from the position of friendship rather than family member. I explore theoretical writings about the difference between family and friends and demonstrate that these writings—even when they address caregiving—ignore issues of authority and rights. I argue that sociologists need to understand better the role of rights in human relationships.