Tag: end-of-life
My Grandparents’ Agonizing Deaths Taught Me to Be a Better Doctor
A medical student's mom told her witnessing her grandfather's agonizing death was a gift, implying that it would make her a better doctor.
Reflections on Death with Dignity
Facing a painful death from incurable cancer, Brittany Maynard had to move to Oregon so she could control her destiny & die with dignity. Why do so few states allow this?
My First Patient, My First Death
A young medical student recalls the indelible experience of taking care of a dying patient. It is the story of her first patient and her first death.
The Indomitable Spirit of My Dying Patient
Caring for his dying patient, a much loved Irish farmer with advanced renal failure, reminded a doctor of what is really important in medicine.
5 Things Not to Do When Delivering Bad News to Patients
Although compassion and empathy are innate qualities, specific education and training can sharpen and improve how physicians deliver bad news to patients.
The Privilege of Being a Third-Year Medical Student
We were told that as third-year medical students, we are lucky because we have time to really get to know our patients as people. It turns out to be true.
Is it Better to Plan for End-of-Life? Or Strategic Aging?
Creating a plan for strategic aging can help patients create a narrative and direction for their end-of-life journey.
Nursing Errors Led to My Son’s Unexpected Death
Nursing errors and the unmonitored use of patient-controlled analgesia led to the unexpected death of a mother's only child. It could have been prevented.
Why Existential Coaching Could Help People at the End-of-Life
Existential coaching in end-of-life conversations may allow people to die with dignity with some relief from existential angst in their final moments
The Dead is More Than a Corpse: Reminiscences of Anatomy Lab
A first year medical student describes her anatomy lab and how she grew to appreciate the corpse she worked on as a gift.