The Old Man’s Friend: Refuse Antibiotics To Achieve A Peaceful Death
"The legal method I suggest most for a dignified and peaceful death is to stop all treatments, especially antibiotics." (Continue reading ...)
Medical Aid In Dying
"New legislation and court judgments are further expanding access to MAID, some bringing new and different twists." (Continue reading ...)
Having Dementia Wishes Followed
"Whose wishes for his medical treatment were we to honor? Those of my father back when he was a healthy, highly functioning geneticist? Or those of the simpler, weakened man my father had become?" (Continue reading ...)
It’s Time for Physicians to Tackle Advance Care Medical Planning
"If these five reasons don’t make a strong enough case for physicians to engage with their patients in advance care planning, here’s one more: it is simply the right thing to do." (Continue reading ...)
Thoughts On A “Good Death”
"I have the privilege to learn and hear interesting perspectives, along with all the questions and comments that our community members have, on the topics of death and dying. Here are a few insights I have gleaned from these discussions." (Continue reading ...)
How Not To Die In The E.R.
"There should be a JLMA form: Just Leave Me Alone, for those of us who concede that we’re actually going to die some day and work to keep our end-times as inexpensive and comfortable as possible." (Continue reading ...)
How To Tell Your Loved Ones
"One of the most common questions asked by people considering ending their suffering is how to start the conversation with family members and friends." (Continue reading ...)
A Good Death Is More About The Journey Than The Destination
"I was reluctant to force the issue. What remained unsaid came with its own set of consequences." (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 ...)