One day we will stop demonizing death, and realize that it's gonna happen to EVERYONE. Then we will be able to have some good discussions on the dying process and what each individual wants / needs from it.
Wow, I am very impressed that he admitted professional failure in not discussing goals of care with his patient. I have a lot of respect for doctors (especially a surgeon) who can realize that there are different ways to practice medicine that are patient centered and not disease centered.
This is the one of the things Chaplains bring to the table, the ability to talk about life in caring honest terms. Doctors tend to be to scientific. They want to put facts on the table and then expect a reasonable decision in moments. Chaplains tend to broaden the discussion and allow the process to stew. Thus helping the person come to grips with their new awareness.
Keep talking, Doc! I see your cohorts in my university hospital deal with this everyday and it's only going to get worse as the boomers hit that wall. We cannot let the misinformed howlers decide our future for us. I saw Hospice care from a front row seat as my father in law died from lung cancer and chf over 8 months. He was never in pain, never doped up, and he was home, able to sit at the dinner table until 24 hours before the end. More power to you, Doc, speak for us!!
An excellent and worthwhile interview with the man who was vilified for his compassionate and intelligent views on end-of-life issues. Why are CONservative religubrats the ones most-fearful of Death With Dignity??
What a smart man. We don't have enough actual meaty discussion about these issues, instead it gets all whittled down to soundbites and sniping. Consequently our country just becomes dumber and dumber. May he stem the tide!
Red Herring? You mean the Republican fearmongers made a dramatic issue out of a non-issue just to make a straw-man out of political hay, despite putting people's well-being in jeopardy? That's unpossible!
As a hospice social worker, one of the most frustrating things that I encountered was the fact that the physicians did not explain the meanining of the patient being referred to hospice. Generally, our patients were told "there is nothing more we can do for you so we are going to refer you to hospice." There was no explanation of what hospice meant, and many thought they would die in the next week. There needs to be more truth and openness on end of life in our society!!
One day we will stop demonizing death, and realize that it's gonna happen to EVERYONE. Then we will be able to have some good discussions on the dying process and what each individual wants / needs from it.
finarbulate 1 year ago
Wow, I am very impressed that he admitted professional failure in not discussing goals of care with his patient. I have a lot of respect for doctors (especially a surgeon) who can realize that there are different ways to practice medicine that are patient centered and not disease centered.
ctskas 1 year ago
This is the one of the things Chaplains bring to the table, the ability to talk about life in caring honest terms. Doctors tend to be to scientific. They want to put facts on the table and then expect a reasonable decision in moments. Chaplains tend to broaden the discussion and allow the process to stew. Thus helping the person come to grips with their new awareness.
davidpmays 1 year ago
Keep talking, Doc! I see your cohorts in my university hospital deal with this everyday and it's only going to get worse as the boomers hit that wall. We cannot let the misinformed howlers decide our future for us. I saw Hospice care from a front row seat as my father in law died from lung cancer and chf over 8 months. He was never in pain, never doped up, and he was home, able to sit at the dinner table until 24 hours before the end. More power to you, Doc, speak for us!!
nanabobana 1 year ago 2
An excellent and worthwhile interview with the man who was vilified for his compassionate and intelligent views on end-of-life issues. Why are CONservative religubrats the ones most-fearful of Death With Dignity??
zenobia13 1 year ago 2
What a smart man. We don't have enough actual meaty discussion about these issues, instead it gets all whittled down to soundbites and sniping. Consequently our country just becomes dumber and dumber. May he stem the tide!
bsbungie 1 year ago
Red Herring? You mean the Republican fearmongers made a dramatic issue out of a non-issue just to make a straw-man out of political hay, despite putting people's well-being in jeopardy? That's unpossible!
KindaGamey 1 year ago 5
As a hospice social worker, one of the most frustrating things that I encountered was the fact that the physicians did not explain the meanining of the patient being referred to hospice. Generally, our patients were told "there is nothing more we can do for you so we are going to refer you to hospice." There was no explanation of what hospice meant, and many thought they would die in the next week. There needs to be more truth and openness on end of life in our society!!
cherokeeredbird 1 year ago 4