I came across a perceptive article by Harvy Lipman in the Bergen (NJ) Record. His point is that referrals to hospice are often equated with loss of hope for recovery and, therefore, are put off as long as possible — … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: April 2012
“Integrating Death into Dying”
This is the title of an upcoming conference in Bournemouth, England hosted by Lewis-Manning Hospice. It has a very interesting quote from Stephen Nimmo: “So much control is lost by the patient because of their illness, but some of that … Continue reading
If Your Only Tool is a Hammer…
… every problem looks like a nail. This quote is often attributed to Abraham Maslow, and it reflects a sad reality in end-of-life care in the United States today. As an example, here’s some information from a Washing Post blog. … Continue reading
Palliative Care: hard to pronounce, hard to spell
There has got to be a better term — more user friendly, if you will — for “palliative care.” It means, of course, providing comfort care — relieving and preventing the suffering that is part and parcel of illness, particularly … Continue reading
National Healthcare Decisions Day is April 16
There is a saying that nothing is certain but death and taxes, and two reminders of that truism are coming up in the middle of this month. Federal tax returns are due on April 17th. And, National Healthcare Decisions Day … Continue reading
End of Life Coverage in the New York Times
I found the story, and the letters it generated, to contain valuable information on end of life decision making. “I was standing by my 89-year-old mother’s hospital bed when she asked a doctor, ‘Is there anything you can do here … Continue reading