Named a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, The New York Times Book Review, NPR, and Chicago Tribune, now in paperback with a new reading group guide

Medicine has triumphed in modern times, transforming the dangers of childbirth, injury, and disease from harrowing to manageable. But when it comes to the inescapable realities of aging and death, what medicine can do often runs counter to what it should.

Through eye-opening research and gripping stories of his own patients and family, Gawande reveals the suffering this dynamic has produced. Nursing homes, devoted above all to safety, battle with residents over the food they are allowed to eat and the choices they are allowed to make. Doctors, uncomfortable discussing patients' anxieties about death, fall back on false hopes and treatments that are actually shortening lives instead of improving them.

In his bestselling books, Atul Gawande, a practicing surgeon, has fearlessly revealed the struggles of his profession. Here he examines its ultimate limitations and failures--in his own practices as well as others'--as life draws to a close. Riveting, honest, and humane, Being Mortal shows how the ultimate goal is not a good death but a good life--all the way to the very end.

#1 New York Times Bestseller

In Being Mortal, bestselling author Atul Gawande tackles the hardest challenge of his profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending

Medicine has triumphed in modern times, transforming birth, injury, and infectious disease from harrowing to manageable. But in the inevitable condition of aging and death, the goals of medicine seem too frequently to run counter to the interest of the human spirit. Nursing homes, preoccupied with safety, pin patients into railed beds and wheelchairs. Hospitals isolate the dying, checking for vital signs long after the goals of cure have become moot. Doctors, committed to extending life, continue to carry out devastating procedures that in the end extend suffering.

Gawande, a practicing surgeon, addresses his profession's ultimate limitation, arguing that quality of life is the desired goal for patients and families. Gawande offers examples of freer, more socially fulfilling models for assisting the infirm and dependent elderly, and he explores the varieties of hospice care to demonstrate that a person's last weeks or months may be rich and dignified.

Full of eye-opening research and riveting storytelling, Being Mortal asserts that medicine can comfort and enhance our experience even to the end, providing not only a good life but also a good end.

Medicine has triumphed in modern times, transforming birth, injury, and infectious disease from harrowing to manageable. But in the inevitable condition of aging and death, the goals of medicine seem too frequently to run counter to the interest of the human spirit. Nursing homes, preoccupied with safety, pin patients into railed beds and wheelchairs. Hospitals isolate the dying, checking for vital signs long after the goals of cure have become moot. Doctors, committed to extending life, continue to carry out devastating procedures that in the end extend suffering.

Gawande, a practicing surgeon, addresses his profession's ultimate limitation, arguing that quality of life is the desired goal for patients and families. Gawande offers examples of freer, more socially fulfilling models for assisting the infirm and dependent elderly, and he explores the varieties of hospice care to demonstrate that a person's last weeks or months may be rich and dignified.

Full of eye-opening research and riveting storytelling, Being Mortal asserts that medicine can comfort and enhance our experience even to the end, providing not only a good life but also a good end.

Christopher Kerr is a hospice doctor. All of his patients die. Yet he has cared for thousands of patients who, in the face of death, speak of love and grace. Beyond the physical realities of dying are unseen processes that are remarkably life-affirming. These include dreams that are unlike any regular dream. Described as more real than real, these end-of-life experiences resurrect past relationships, meaningful events and themes of love and forgiveness; they restore life's meaning and mark the transition from distress to comfort and acceptance.

Drawing on interviews with over 1,400 patients and more than a decade of quantified data, Dr. Kerr reveals that pre-death dreams and visions are extraordinary occurrences that humanize the dying process. He shares how his patients' stories point to death as not solely about the end of life, but as the final chapter of humanity's transcendence. Kerr's book also illuminates the benefits of these phenomena for the bereaved, who find solace in seeing their loved ones pass with a sense of calm closure.

Beautifully written, with astonishing real-life characters and stories, this book is at its heart a celebration of our power to reclaim the dying process as a deeply meaningful one. Death Is But a Dream is an important contribution to our understanding of medicine's and humanity's greatest mystery.

The book begins by explaining what VSED is and how it differs from euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. It is a legal and natural option, allowing individuals to control their dying process. Through real-life case studies, Abraham illustrates the profound impact of VSED on patients and their families, offering insights into the emotional and ethical considerations involved.

Readers will find practical guidance on preparing for VSED, including the importance of medical consultation, legal considerations, and the role of advance directives. Abraham emphasizes the need for a robust support system, highlighting the roles of healthcare professionals, families, and caregivers in ensuring a peaceful and dignified experience.
The book also delves into the physical process of VSED, providing a detailed overview of the stages and symptoms to expect. Abraham offers strategies for managing symptoms such as thirst, delirium, and anxiety, ensuring that comfort is maintained throughout the process. The book underscores the importance of palliative and hospice care, which can provide essential support and symptom management.

Ethical considerations are thoughtfully addressed, with discussions on autonomy, self-determination, and the ethical debates surrounding VSED. Abraham provides a balanced perspective, acknowledging the complexity of these issues while advocating for informed and compassionate decision-making.

Dignity in Dying is a valuable resource for patients, families, and healthcare providers. It empowers readers to make informed choices about end-of-life care, respecting individual values and wishes. With warmth and empathy, Abraham guides readers through the challenging journey of VSED, offering support and understanding every step of the way.

Whether you are a caregiver, a healthcare professional, or someone considering VSED, this book provides the knowledge and reassurance needed to navigate this profoundly personal decision. Dignity in Dying is a testament to the power of choice and the importance of dignity in the final stages of life.

Dr. Stefanie Green has been forging new paths in the field of medical assistance in dying since 2016. In her landmark memoir, Dr. Green reveals the reasons a patient might seek an assisted death, how the process works, what the event itself can look like, the reactions of those involved, and what it feels like to oversee proceedings and administer medications that hasten death. She describes the extraordinary people she meets and the unusual circumstances she encounters as she navigates the intricacy, intensity, and utter humanity of these powerful interactions.

Deeply authentic and powerfully emotional, This Is Assisted Dying contextualizes the myriad personal, professional, and practical issues surrounding assisted dying by bringing readers into the room with Dr. Green, sharing the voices of her patients, her colleagues, and her own narrative. As our population confronts issues of wellness, integrity, agency, community, and how to live a connected, meaningful life, this progressive and compassionate book by a physician at the forefront of medically assisted dying offers comfort and potential relief.

A humane, clear-eyed view of how and why one can leave the world by choice (Kirkus Reviews), This Is Assisted Dying will change the way people think about their options, and ultimately is less about death than about how we wish to live.

Enseñanzas que las personas cercanas a la muerte transmiten a médicos, enfermeras, religiosos y a sus propias familias.

Sobre la muerte y el morir, uno de los estudios psicológicos más famosos de finales del siglo XX, surgió de un seminario interdisciplinario que versaba sobre la muerte, originado y dirigido por la Dra. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.

En esta obra, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross introdujo y exploró por primera vez las actualmente reconocidas etapas para lidiar con la muerte: negación, ira, negociación, depresión y aceptación.

A través de entrevistas y conversaciones, tendrás una mejor comprensión de cómo la muerte inminente afecta al paciente, a su familia y a los profesionales que lo atienden. La autora brinda esperanza, consuelo y tranquilidad a todos los involucrados.

La muerte forma parte de la vida, no podemos obviarlo. Encuentra en este libro las herramientas psicológicas que te ayudarán a integrarla en tu vida.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

Teachings that people near death transmit to doctors, nurses, clergy, and their own families.

On Death and Dying, one of the most famous psychological studies of the late 20th century, arose from an interdisciplinary seminar on death, initiated and directed by Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.

In this work, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross introduced and explored for the first time the now-recognized stages of dealing with death: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Through interviews and conversations, you will gain a better understanding of how imminent death affects the patient, their family, and the professionals who care for them. The author provides hope, comfort, and reassurance to all involved.

Death is a part of life; we cannot ignore it. Find in this book the psychological tools that will help you integrate it into your life.

This comprehensive pocket-size handbook is the essential reference for clinicians and others serving patients with advanced or life-limiting illness. It offers up-to-date, relevant, and highly practical guidance to expertly meet the challenges of serving these patients and their families.

This user-friendly manual emphasizes the importance of honoring patients' wishes throughout their medical journey while meeting their whole-person, often complex needs-from symptom management to attending to spiritual and emotional suffering-and always acknowledges the context of patients' lives, including the needs of loved ones supporting them.

The layout makes finding information quick and easy, with alphabetically organized chapter headings and a detailed index. Organ-system-based chapters offer disease-specific, goals-of-care discussion guidance and reviews of etiology, signs and symptoms, assessment, and management-including standard treatment as well as palliative options.

Other chapters cover communication with patients and families, consultation with colleagues, and code status discussions, along with valuable subjects such as withdrawing life support, ethics, spirituality, physician-assisted death, and palliative options of last resort.

Readers will find practical management strategies for symptoms such as pain, nausea, dyspnea, and delirium. In addition, chapters on opioid use and dosing, and pharmacology of commonly used palliative medications, make this guide an invaluable resource.

This unique book is a first-of-its-kind resource that comprehensively covers each facet and challenge of providing optimal perinatal palliative care. Designed for a wide and multi-disciplinary audience, the subjects covered range from theoretical to the clinical and the practically relevant, and all chapters include case studies that provide real-world scenarios as additional teaching tools for the reader.

Perinatal Palliative Care: A Clinical Guide is divided into four sections. Part One provides the foundation, covering an overview of the field, key theories that guide the practice of perinatal palliative care, and includes a discussion of perinatal ethics and parental experiences and needs upon receiving a life-limiting fetal diagnosis. Part Two delves further into practical clinical care, guiding readers through issues of obstetrical management, genetic counseling, neonatal pain management, non-pain symptom management, spiritual care, and perinatal bereavement care. Part Three discusses models of perinatal palliative care, closely examining evidence for different types of PPC programs: from hospital-based programs, to community-based care, and examines issues of interdisciplinary PPC care coordination, birth planning, and team support. Finally, Part Four concludes the book with a close look at special considerations in the field. In this section, racial, ethnic, and cultural perspectives and implications for PPC are discussed, along with lessons in how to provide PPC for a wide-range of clinical and other healthcare workers. The book closes with a look to the future of the field of perinatal palliative care.

Thorough and practical, Perinatal Palliative Care: A Clinical Guide is an ideal resource for any healthcare practitioner working with these vulnerable patient populations, from palliative care specialists, to obstetricians, midwifes, neonatologists, hospice providers, nurses, doulas, social workers, chaplains, therapists, ethicists, and child life specialists.

Medical Decisions for a Loved One with a Life-Threatening Illness: Palliative Care for the Community

By: Dr. Gannel Jean-Pierre

Medical Decisions for a Loved One with a Life-Threatening Illness: Palliative Care for the Community by Dr. Gannel Jean-Pierre is a wonderful resource for people dealing with a life-threatening illness or who have a loved one in such a situation. Dr. Jean-Pierre blends real experience with sensitive, effective, and gentle advice to cater to most any situation within the palliative care spectrum. With examples from Jean-Pierre's vast expanse of clinical experience, this book is invaluable to those in this situation. Dr. Jean-Pierre masterfully uses reputable sources for great information and resources to help as much as possible during end-of-life care. This book is highly recommended to anybody who needs help understanding how to help loved ones in this situation, or what to expect if they themselves are going through terminal illness.

About the Author

Dr. Gannel Jean-Pierre, FNP, BC, DNP, OCN, ACHPN, is a palliative care consultant for various skilled nursing facilities in the Bronx and Yonkers areas of New York. He is a passionate advocate for the rights of patients and/or responsible parties to be allowed to make informed and guided advance directives and medical decisions.

Dr. Gannel Jean-Pierre earned a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from the Nursing School of Fairfield University at Connecticut, a Master's Degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Southern Connecticut State University, and a Doctoral Degree as a Doctor in Nursing Practice from Columbia University in the city of New York. He was a fellow in the post-doctoral palliative care fellowship program at Columbia University in the city of New York. He is also an Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse and an Oncology Certified Nurse.

The Oxford American Handbook of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care is an easily-navigable source of information about the day-to-day management of patients requiring palliative and hospice care. The table of contents follows the core curriculum of the American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, thus meeting the educational and clinical information needs of students, residents, fellows, and nurse practitioners. Succinct, evidence-based, topically-focused content is supplemented by extensive tables, algorithms, and clinical pearls. This edition includes new sections on grief and bereavement, medical marijuana, and physician assisted suicide, and has been updated throughout to incorporate National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Too often we view death as an enemy to be denied, fought, and defeated, rather than as an inevitable and natural part of life. The medical establishment routinely buys into this view, promoting aggressive treatments by overselling technology and hope, which only prolong needless suffering for terminal patients and their families. But as this candid book shows, we don't have to go down that path.

As a long-time palliative and hospice care physician, Dr. Ken Pettit talks openly about a subject few of us want to discuss. His focus is not on prolonging life, but on helping terminal patients die a good death, with the best possible quality of life up to the end.

Based on his work with hundreds of patients and families, as well as the life-altering experience of watching family and friends face death, Dr. Pettit illuminates, in the vivid detail that only an insider can provide, the failings of our medical establishment. He empowers us to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and prepare, with pro-active clarity, for our final days. This book will help all of us-patients, families, and medical professionals-break our collective silence about death, so we can develop better ways of discussing, treating, and encountering what we will all someday face.

In keeping with the dynamic growth of the field over the last decade, this second edition offers a substantially deeper dive both conceptually and contextually into the more nuanced delivery of palliative social work. This edition includes additional chapters that reflect the increased integration of palliative social work across populations, diagnoses, and settings. Each chapter has been extensively updated integrating current evidence, with a section specifically devoted to interventions for the purpose of affirming the scope of social work palliative practice. A new preface highlights aspects of social-political inequity and injustice that informed the development, process, and ultimate content of this Text. International palliative social work practice is reflected by regional voices and highlighted by an exploration of the unique response to the COVID-19 pandemic as it evolved in their respective countries. Professional issues explore topics of mentoring, supervision, advocacy, leadership, certification, legacy, and resilience.

Intending to fill an important gap in medical training, this book presents an easy-to-learn, standardized approach to having compassionate and collaborative goals of care conversations with patients and families, a skill that can be difficult for clinicians to learn and that is not part of standard medical education curricula.

Developed by a Palliative Care provider, this is the first book to teach everything clinicians need to know to gently guide patients and families through what can often be difficult discussions about illness, disease, end-of-life wishes, and hospice care. This technique can be used to discuss any medical diagnosis or treatment, be employed at any age or stage of an illness, and can be used by health care professionals at any level.

Readers will be introduced to the patterns of decline patients follow toward the end of life, criteria for recognizing when a patient's time is limited, hospice care, ground rules for compassionate communication, and a step-wise method of leading patients and families through difficult goals of care conversations in a collaborative way. The book includes specific questions to ask and starter language clinicians can use for developing their own patient-friendly talking points about disease progression, the end of life, concerns that a patient's time is limited, advanced directives, code status, and hospice care. An Arc of Conversation Guide, for use when learning this technique, is included in the Appendix.

While modern medicine is terrific at acute stabilization of illness or injury, it often ignores the elephant in the room--disease progression and death. By doing so, the healthcare system frequently misses opportunities to align patient wishes with the care they receive. Furthermore, physicians often avoid difficult conversations with patients due to a lack of training or the assumption that hospice care represents medical or personal failure. Incorporating the material and technique taught in The Arc of Conversation into everyday practice will enable clinicians to acknowledge and discuss patient decline and to confidently include hospice care as a viable option for treatment that can support patient values, wishes, and priorities. Moving toward a continually collaborative approach with patients--a shift away from physician-directed care to patient-centered care--will enable clinicians to develop treatment plans that prioritize outcomes that matter most to patients and families, improving patient and family experience of health care across their lives and providing patients with the 'soft landing' they want at the end.

Through detailed chapters covering critical assessment skills, readers will master the art of proactive care planning and documentation. Starting with a systematic visit approach, the guide progresses through crucial topics like assessing imminent death within a two-week window, evaluating changes in condition, measuring decline velocity, ensuring care plan effectiveness, managing medications, and maximizing support services[.

Special features include assessment checklists, documentation templates, communication scripts, and quick reference guides that make complex concepts immediately actionable. The book offers practical tools for evaluating imminent death indicators, understanding disease progression patterns, and recognizing subtle changes that signal approaching end-of-life.

Clinical managers will find valuable insights for training staff and standardizing visit procedures. New nurses will gain confidence through clear protocols and assessment frameworks, while experienced clinicians will discover fresh perspectives for enhancing their practice. The guide bridges the gap between basic hospice training and expert practice by providing structured approaches for:

• Conducting systematic patient assessments
• Recognizing and documenting decline patterns
• Managing medications effectively
• Coordinating interdisciplinary care
• Meeting documentation requirements
• Supporting families through the end-of-life journey

The book's systematic approach helps prevent oversight of critical components during visits while ensuring thorough documentation that supports Medicare compliance. By implementing these evidence-based practices, nurses can enhance care quality, reduce unnecessary triage calls, improve CAHPS scores, and increase family satisfaction.

Whether you're new to hospice care or an experienced clinician looking to refine your practice, this comprehensive resource provides the structure and tools needed to deliver excellence in end-of-life care. Make every visit count with this indispensable guide for hospice excellence.

In a world filled with uncertainty, protecting your family and home has never been more crucial. A Navy SEAL's Bug-In Guide: Making Your Home the Ultimate Defense Fortress is your go-to manual for transforming your house into a secure stronghold, prepared for any crisis. Drawing on years of elite military experience, this guide offers practical, easy-to-implement strategies to safeguard your loved ones.

Discover how to fortify your home with battle-tested tactics used by Navy SEALs, including:

• Perimeter Defense: Learn how to establish a security perimeter that will deter intruders and keep your property safe.
• Home Security Systems: Get insights on selecting and optimizing alarm systems, surveillance cameras, and other essential security tools.
• Survival Supplies: Understand what supplies you need to stockpile and how to store them effectively to sustain your family during long-term emergencies.
• Safe Room Creation: Design a secure area in your home where your family can take shelter in extreme situations.
• Escape Routes and Plans: Develop emergency plans and escape routes tailored to your home's layout and surrounding environment.

Whether you're preparing for natural disasters, civil unrest, or other unforeseen events, this comprehensive guide empowers you to take control of your home's security. With clear instructions, detailed illustrations, and expert advice, A Navy SEAL's Bug-In Guide is the ultimate resource for anyone serious about home defense and family protection.

Take the first step toward creating a fortress that stands strong against any threat-right from the comfort of your home.

Perfect for:

• Preppers
• Survival enthusiasts
• Homeowners seeking to enhance security
• Anyone interested in self-reliance and protection strategies

Are you tired of relying on synthetic medications for your health needs? Do you crave a more natural approach to wellness? Are you ready to take control of your health journey? If so, then Forget The Pharmacy: Grow Your Own Herbal Medicines is the book you've been waiting for.

In this comprehensive guide, you'll discover the incredible healing properties of herbs and how you can harness their power right in your own backyard. From soothing lavender for relaxation to immune-boosting echinacea, this book covers a wide range of herbs that can address common health concerns naturally.

But this isn't just a book about theory - it's a practical manual for growing, harvesting, and using herbs effectively. You'll learn how to cultivate your own herbal garden, even if you're short on space or experience. With easy-to-follow instructions and helpful tips, you'll be able to nurture your plants from seed to harvest with confidence.

And the benefits don't stop there. Forget The Pharmacy also includes a variety of recipes and dietary suggestions to incorporate these healing herbs into your daily life. Whether you're looking to alleviate aches and pains, boost your energy levels, or support your immune system, you'll find plenty of options to suit your needs.

Don't wait any longer to take charge of your health. Invest in Forget The Pharmacy: Grow Your Own Herbal Medicines today and start your journey towards natural wellness. Your body will thank you for it.

Buy this book now and embark on a healthier, more holistic way of living.