[Barbarah]

Being Mortal, Atul Gawande (book club suggestion)

by Barbarah on Wed Dec 17, 2014 8:53 pm

I recommend Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, a very clear eyed look at current end of life care and more compassionate alternatives.

[Tracy J]

Re: Being Mortal, Atul Gawande (book club suggestion)

by Tracy J on Fri Dec 19, 2014 10:48 am

I'll read that with you! I really like Atul Gawande. As an aside, my Dad, who is a retired urologist in central Ohio, occasionally worked with Atul Gawande's Dad, who was a doctor in southern Ohio.

[NStewart]

Re: Being Mortal, Atul Gawande (book club suggestion)

by NStewart on Sun Mar 01, 2015 4:09 pm

I just finished reading this book. I had it on a waiting list since the middle of December, so had a long wait until it was available. Dr. Guwande was a speaker at the Palliative Care / Hospice Conference that was held in Philadelphia this week. From the article in the "Philadelphia Inquirer" about his appearance, it sounds like the session was extremely well attended and his message well received.

This book is very easy to read and raises many issues to be considered when looking at the end of life, whether from normal aging or from terminal disease. It has given me a lot to think about as to how I want to end my days. I know that I don't want to have the kind of death that a couple of my myeloma friends had this year. But, I don't know how to make sure that that happens. When you live alone with no family still alive, it becomes more difficult to put everything into place so that your wishes will be followed if you aren't able to make those decisions any more.

I highly recommend reading this book.

Nancy in Phila