Sure, when missing vital organs with a small caliber when attempting suicide, I'd say it does have a tendency to take a person a while to die, that is if not attended to as far as patching up internal damage. In Vincent's case it was of hemorrhaging when doctors neglected to remove the bullet and stop the hemorrhaging.

Of course they had their reasons,... just read some of what has been written down in history of why they didn't. I'd say the physician Dr. Paul Gachet and his colleagues, over their own discussion of what to do was the deciding factor of whether Vincent lived or died,.. which of course he did die. I believe their discussions could have possibly went as to something like this in a room behind closed doors.

I would like to inform you doctor said Dr. Gachet to his colleague; Vincent did tell me if we save him, he'll just shoot himself again. You do know they didn't find the gun and he's the only one who knows where it is don't you. I might also mention before Vincent committing this act he did come by my house with my children at home, and there and then threaten me for not framing some of the art works I'd taken as payments from him and different other artist's. I believe he had something in his pocket he wanted to pull out but didn't, and then left in a huff and went stomping off.

After reading this you would think the rest of their conversation could have gone as such. Do you really feel our own lives and families could possibly be in danger? That is a very good possibility, or at least mine. Well then,... what do you say we just stop the external bleeding and call it a day,... if he gets better, fine, and we'll just have make sure they put him away again,... and if he dies he will not have to shoot himself again. OK,.. let's go fix him up!