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…
Category: Palliative care
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…
Rosalynn Carter’s impact on caregivers
I’m writing this in November, which is National Caregiver Month. It’s also Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. But regardless of when you’re reading this, if you’re a caregiver, every month is “caregiver month.” Ironi…
Uncovering the truth behind my father’s tragic end
I was the “stranger” at my father’s bedside. Shortly after his 84th birthday, my father fell and landed in the hospital with a split scalp. His metastatic prostate cancer was an incidental finding, and superimposing this wildly invasi…
Embracing life’s purpose in the face of inevitable death
“I cannot escape death, but at least I can escape the fear of it.” – Epictetus I wish more people knew that quote during the pandemic. I write this on November 1st, celebrated as Dia de Muertos or “Day of the Dead.” Epicte…
Intensive caring: Reminding patients they matter
Dame Cicely Saunders, the founder of the modern hospice movement and palliative care, famously said, “You matter because you are you, and you matter to the last moment of your life.” This quote has become the central philosophical tenet of …
Exploring psychedelic therapies [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! Join Thaís Salles Araujo, an internal medicine resident. Discover the potential benefits, challenges, and the need for greater awareness and education in integrating these therapies into mo…
