John was an 88-year-old ranch owner who struck gold when he sold his homestead in Wyoming. His “golden years” in Arizona were spent struggling with back pain and caring for his 80-year-old niece with dementia. He ran out of pain medication and presented to the ER for another “handout” of hydrocodone. He admitted that life was taking its toll and he … [Read more...] about Survival of the Fittest Does Not Apply After 85
Palliative Care
IDEO Challenge: Re-imagine End-of-Life Care
“I don’t want to give up,” expressed a heroic 52-Year-old woman who had been battling aggressive metastatic breast cancer for three agonizing years. At one point, Natalie had almost achieved the insurmountable feat of remission, but then the cancer returned with a vengeance. Natalie arrived at the crossroads of a decision point in the emergency … [Read more...] about IDEO Challenge: Re-imagine End-of-Life Care
Happy Super Bowl Sunday!
Super Bowl Sunday is the unofficial day when New Year’s resolutions end. After 30 days, these prospects generally become an effective way of living, or go by the wayside. Once the pizza, chicken wings and Nachos Grande are served along with the Margaritas and draft beer, who dare to uphold resolutions that call for withholding alcohol and junk … [Read more...] about Happy Super Bowl Sunday!
Advance Care Planning a la David Bowie
While death is a mystery, David Bowie’s timely passage with the release of his the new videos from his album Blackstar left his sympathetic fans wondering and fearful. The graphic shock waves that permeate the characters in the video reflect those of us who shake our boots at the prospect of confronting our own mortality – our own nothingness and … [Read more...] about Advance Care Planning a la David Bowie
Presidential Term Limits for VIP Patients
Are term limits for U.S. presidents necessarily good? After listening to Lindsey Graham bemoan the loss of President Bush during a Republican debate and feeling remorse for President Obama as he delivered his final State of the Union address, we can certainly agree that asking too much of one person is unhealthy for society overall. There needs to … [Read more...] about Presidential Term Limits for VIP Patients
The Palliative Caregiver
I never realized the true meaning of palliative care amidst the harried practice of emergency medicine. The pressure being placed on me to do more often becomes the same expectation I place on patients to receive more treatment. Gloria, the wife of my patient with terminal mesothelioma shed a light on palliative care for me with the insightful … [Read more...] about The Palliative Caregiver
END LIFE WITHOUT GUILT
I was inspired by headline posted online by the Los Angeles Times: Pope’s decree on abortion may signal change in practice. The article referenced Pope Francis’ compassion for women who have had abortions with these words: “I am well aware of the pressure that has led them to this decision. I know that it is an existential and moral ordeal. I have … [Read more...] about END LIFE WITHOUT GUILT
PERSONAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: MY WILL TO DIE
Whereas a terminal condition in its broadest definition leads to death, I underscore and accept that the experience of living will naturally progress to a time to die and my life will end. As defined in the practice of medicine, a terminal condition is an incurable and irreversible illness that leads to death. While treatable medical conditions … [Read more...] about PERSONAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: MY WILL TO DIE