This is a critical response to "Fragile objects: A visual essay," by Chapman et al. published in the Journal of Bioethical Inquiry (2019, 16(2): 185-189). Whilst "Fragile objects" is evocative of the author(s)' experience in sitting with a man ("Patrick"), who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, I express concern that there are unwarranted and unsubstantiated conclusions drawn about Patrick's phenomenological experience of dementia/Alzheimer's.