Atul Gawande is a surgeon. He feels like his medical training didn't prepare him to deal with all the emotional issues patrons go through as they face the end of their life. This book is written to explore a variety of issues concerning end of life. He goes over what happens physiologically when we age and what happens to cause death. He gives examples of people who were able to face death on their own terms, and those who were pressured into care decisions that decreased the quality of their last days instead of improving it. He talks about care facilities, and what they can do to make resident's experiences more meaningful. At the end he talks about what kind of difficult discussions you can have with those that are dying to make sure that care they receive respect their most important goals for their last days on earth.
One of my friends at work recommended this book to me. Even though it is a sobering topic, Dr. Gawande does a great job identifying and discussing important issues that everyone should consider. He shares stories from his practice and his own life as examples of what to do and what not to do. I feel like I want to share this book with all my friends that are caring for aging parents. (304 p. 2014)
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