The Dallas Morning News ran an excellent five-part series on end of life decisions and difficulties. The "Edge of Life" series follows a palliative care team at Baylor University Medical Center. Nurse Min Patel and several of her patients discuss, prepare for, and address the family, health, and spiritual dimensions of dealing with death in the face of modern medical technology.My nut-shell summary:
Old way: "Aversion to their own mortality was at the core of doctors' inhibitions in helping patients at the end of life . . . . It made physicians hide behind stiff white coats, rush from room to room, and turn clinical and cold when they couldn't fix or rescue."
New way: Palliative care professionals address all relevant issues head-on. "[They] can't fix everything, but [the patients] don't have to go it alone." The outcomes are better for all those involved when they realize "that using more drugs and devices wasn't always the best way to show love."
The stories in this series are so touching it makes you wish all death and grieving could be as good as this featured approach aspires to.
Also, check out my previous post on hospice care.
(Photo by blueskygirl; used by permission.)
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