Recently, we have been caring for a homeless veteran. We call him Mr. J; we have been trying to help him which, at times, seems impossible. Over time we have…
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There is a fever in healthcare. “We are Burning UP! About Burning Out!” Many of us feel burned out at times. Then we read how our colleagues are reporting they…
Last week I was trying out my new camper-trailer driving on a dirt road in the mountains heading for secluded camping spot. As the road got narrower and rougher I…
Zeke Emanuel, a famous physician-ethicist, has widely written and spoken about his hope to die at 75. He does seem to be something of a showboat, announcing this hope 4…
This is the earnest question I heard from a 5-year old girl to her mother as they left the church after the funeral. Brave of this mother to bring her…
In The Princess Bride, the hero Wesley appears to have succumb to torture and has died. In desperation his friends take him to Miracle Max who informs them that “It…
I loved this carton as a kid. The clearly crooked rocket that would probably blow-up. Yet it is only at this late point in the process that they start…
We only die once. We only have one time to get it right. Working on a palliative care team I have had the honor of caring for thousands of patients…
I have been struggling to put in words what is most important to teach in palliative care. It is important to teach facts, such as 30 mg of morphine by…