VSED: The Least Bad Option
“Your mother didn’t choose a terminal illness. She only chose not to let the disease pick when and how she would die.” (Continue reading ...)
Elderly Or Elder?
"We live in a culture that's intensely driven by productivity, accomplishments, and academic achievements. In doing this, we've forgotten about our wise ones, the storytellers, the original wisdom keepers, the Elders." (Continue reading ...)
Don’t Let The Patient Die
"'Don’t let the patient die'… is that the right thing or the wrong thing for a given patient? It is time for physicians to think that through more completely and allow, perhaps, a different answer." (Continue reading ...)
Dying Badly In The ICU
"The sentence that sent my blood pressure skyward was this: 'Even if my patients are beyond pain, there is also a cost to those who are forced to perform emergency efforts that is just that: a performance.'” (Continue reading ...)
‘Til Death Do Us Part!
Death. Mortality. End of Life. Something inevitable, yet rarely discussed and a source of intense discomfort for most. When mentioned, it is considered inauspicious and rude in many cultures. Death is an integral part of the workday for a Critical Care Physician like me. But it was never a topic of discussion in Medical School or training. (Continue reading ...)
A Jewish Interpretation Of Death With Dignity: Seven Teachings
Jewish law states the dying are to be considered, for legal purposes, “like one who is alive for every purpose”, capable of wielding the same power over their lives until their very last moments, as they did in their days of health. (Continue reading ...)
What Does A “Good Death” Really Mean?
Although many individuals shy away from contemplating the inevitability of death, most would agree that they would like to die well. A new review of existing literature, published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, asks what makes a “good death” according to those involved in the process. (Continue reading ...)
How To Prepare Yourself For A Good End Of Life
Don't wait until you're at death's door to explore your passions, deepen your relationships and find your posse. (Continue reading ...)
Patients Want A ‘Good Death’ At Home, But Hospice Care Can Badly Strain Families (Part 2)
For many families, making hospice work at home means hiring extra help -- out of your own pocket. (Continue reading ...)
Patients Want A ‘Good Death’ At Home, But Hospice Care Can Badly Strain Families
“Imagine if you’re the caregiver, and that you’re in the house. It’s in the middle of the night, 2 o’clock in the morning, and all of a sudden, your family member has a grand mal seizure.” (Continue reading ...)