How do you make sense of someone dying? The only way I know is to put it into some context so that, if possible, some good can come of it. Some of you may have known about my dad’s Parkinson’s disease. He’s had a fairly rapid decline …
Category: Palliative care
Finding peace in the face of loss: a father’s journey with hospice
How do you make sense of someone dying? The only way I know is to put it into some context so that, if possible, some good can come of it. Some of you may have known about my dad’s Parkinson’s disease. He’s had a fairly rapid decline …
From doctor to family: Witnessing both sides of end-of-life care
We all have those moments in medicine when we know that care has become more futile. Then we do everything in our power to educate, support, gently guide, and give permission to patients and families. There are moments that treating for a cure goes aga…
Assisted suicide: Safeguards debated as bioethicist warns of unintended consequences
At a time when many states are considering assisted suicide legislation, I was interested to encounter the perspective of the well-known bioethicist Arthur Caplan who recently expressed his support for these laws on these pages. While I appreciate Capl…
Assisted suicide is the wrong prescription
America expends much time, effort, and resources when people become seriously ill, bringing many face-to-face with their own mortality. For patients and their families, it is an emotional and difficult time under the best of circumstances. As a cardiol…
Ditch the guilt and stress: Embrace your core values like this inspiring doctor mom
Kim Downey: I recently had an enlightening conversation with Dr. Sarah Wittry. We enjoyed learning about all that we share in common! As a physical therapist, I was delighted to hear that Dr. Wittry’s medical career began in physiatry/PM&R. H…
Medical aid in dying legislation for end-of-life care [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Join Thaddeus Mason Pope, an expert in medical law and clinical ethics, as we delve into the complex landscape of medical aid in dying (MAID) legislation. Explore the evol…
Medical aid in dying: time for evidence-based legislation
Medical aid in dying (MAID) is poised to be one of the hottest political health care issues of 2024. As in 2023, more than a dozen states will hold both impassioned hearings in legislative chambers and equally fervent debates in the community. Already,…
Breaking the silence on caregiver stress [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! Join R. Lynn Barnett, a patient advocate. We’ll explore the world of caregiving, its challenges, and the profound impact it has on individuals and families. Discover valuable insights…
Palliative care and the garden of hope
My grandmother had a beautiful garden that she expanded through years of effort in her terraced backyard. Despite rocky soil and areas of deep shade, her flowers blossomed, and the garden thrived. I do not know if her skills as a gardener were innate o…
