“I just can’t. I can’t,” Wendy sobbed into my hair. We barely made it out the door when our bodies collapsed together, puddles holding puddles. The children, 5 and 7, had just left with their tiny grey backpacks, tiny soldiers o…
Category: Palliative care
Jimmy Carter brings attention to hospice care: the compassionate side of modern medicine
The recent decision by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to transition to hospice brings much-needed attention to this crucial part of health care. Hospice care is an essential and compassionate component of modern medicine, providing support and care…
Ensuring your voice is heard: the importance of power of attorney, advance care directives, and POLST forms
My husband was clearly losing his independence after a terminal diagnosis and many hospital visits. I was getting more and more responsibility, which I didn’t mind, but the best way we could handle it was just to let it happen. There was no way t…
Ensuring your voice is heard: the importance of power of attorney, advance care directives, and POLST forms
My husband was clearly losing his independence after a terminal diagnosis and many hospital visits. I was getting more and more responsibility, which I didn’t mind, but the best way we could handle it was just to let it happen. There was no way t…
Cream Puff Days: Coping with grief and finding comfort
I wrote an article on letting grief make you stronger and talked about a trip to the grocery store where I was not as strong as I hoped. I walked by the Cream Puffs and broke into tears. My husband passed away almost four months ago, and he always used…
A physician’s journey with COVID-19: reflections on mental coping mechanisms and seeking care [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! In this episode, we hear from Alen Voskanian, a palliative care physician, who shares his personal experience with COVID-19. Dr. Voskanian reflects on the mental coping mechanisms he used t…
End-of-life choices: Why Medicare needs to change [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! End-of-life care is a crucial and often overlooked aspect of health care. In this episode, we speak with Kevin Haselhorst, an emergency physician and author who shares his insights on the c…
The power of communication in palliative care: How words can heal and instill hope
Effective communication has the potential to promote understanding, safety, and connection. It is the foundation of high-quality health care. Our use of language to heal is important in all facets of medicine, but words may be even more powerful when p…
The slippery slope of legal assisted suicide and euthanasia
We began with terminally ill patients, but the slippery slope is alive and well, smothered in oil. The Western world is increasingly advocating for the advancement of legal euthanasia, and this is a huge mistake. In their quest, advocates for legally a…
What being a hospice volunteer taught me about health care [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! “The finality of death is a powerful teacher. For some patients, being diagnosed with a terminal illness is an experience that lends a tremendous shift in perspective and newfound aut…
