He was really hooked to smoking, despite being aware of the risks as a doctor.The sickness was at a fairly advanced stage when it was discovered.
Since Religa had proclaimed himself an atheist, his burial was conducted in the non-Catholic cemetery. Both the photographer and his patient,
Tadeusz Zitkevits, who carried the image Lee had shot of him during surgery with the doctor at his side as an amulet, attended the event. History will remember this tale of human decency.
