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Category Archives: end of life
Barack Obama honors John McCain
Wonderful memorial tribute by President Obama.
Posted in end of life, Obituaries, Politics, Remembrances
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George W. Bush tribute to John McCain
Posted in end of life, Grief, Obituaries
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A place for hope
It’s been a while since Barbara Bush, former First Lady of the United States, passed away in the spring, but a lot of people still are living on the hope she bequeathed to them. Throughout their long lives in the … Continue reading
Posted in end of life, Grief, Religion, Remembrances, Spiritual
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Saying “Turn it off” after a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator is in place
Ed note: With technology it’s often easier to say “yes” rather than “no” – or worse, saying “stop” after you said “yes.” As an ethics committee consultant, I was asked to see a dying patient on hospice who wanted his … Continue reading
Is it moral to respect the wishes of the dead, above the living?
Trillions of dollars are involved. Should personal wealth be passed unfettered to the family? What are the moral obligations to our country, our institutions and our fellow man. I know a family who left a trust giving $1M to each … Continue reading
Posted in end of life, Essays, Finance, Philanthropy, Social justice
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“Speaking of Dying” with Trudy James – Wednesday, at 3:30 PM
Wednesday, at 3:30 PM Trudy James presented her film here. Trudy is a chaplain deeply committed to advocacy and education about end of life choices. After the 30 minute film Trudy, Jim deMaine, Elizabeth Graham and Jeannie Fessenden will … Continue reading
Posted in Education, end of life, Health
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Ellyn Goodman’s “The Conversation Project” on ABC
Click here for more information about The Conversation Project.
Posted in Advocacy, end of life, Health
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“What Cancer Can Do” by Michael Shirk
Michael Shirk died at age 60 from prostate cancer. The poetry he wrote during his battle with cancer was published by Make a Wish Foundation. His mother, Ardis, shared the book with me after the poem called “What Cancer Cannot Do” … Continue reading
Posted in Books, end of life, Poetry
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Advance Directives for Dementia – new frontier
One of the greatest fears many have is progressive dementia. The common advance directives including the POLST form don’t effectively address these fears. A few years ago, End of Life Washington developed a fairly complicated Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Mental Health … Continue reading
Posted in Advance Directives, end of life, Health
2 Comments
How, or how not, to choose your health care proxy
Ed note: This video clip is from Ellyn Goodman’s the conversation project. Click here to learn more about conversations and choices.
Posted in Advance Directives, Advocacy, end of life, Health
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Do you have a favorite epitaph?
In thinking about a legacy, many notable people left interesting epitaphs. The tone varies widely with strains of lament, humor, religiosity, hope and peace. Do you have a favorite? What would you write for yourself or a loved one? Here … Continue reading
Posted in end of life, Essays
3 Comments
How (not) to talk to someone with advanced cancer
Kate Bowler is an assistant professor at Duke Divinity School, the author of “Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved.” She has been “terminal” (what does that mean any more?) with stage IV cancer but her life … Continue reading
Posted in end of life, Essays, Health
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Advance Directives for dementia
There’s a recent article in the New York Times about a new type of Advance Directive for dementia. It’s a five page attempt to help us to clarify in advance, what our wishes for medical interventions would be if we’re … Continue reading
Posted in Advance Directives, Advocacy, end of life
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“WeCroak”
I’m somewhat shocked about this one, an app for your phone reminding us 5 times a day that we’re going to die. Wow. I felt like death was my constant companion when I was in Critical Care Medicine where mortality was … Continue reading
Posted in end of life, Health, Science and Technology
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The Ethics of the DNR Tatoo
LINDSEY BEVER, THE WASHINGTON POST 1 DEC 2017 Doctors in Miami faced an unusual ethical dilemma when an unconscious, deteriorating patient was brought into the emergency room with the words “Do Not Resuscitate” across his chest. The 70-year-old man was taken earlier this … Continue reading
Posted in end of life, Health
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“The Five Invitations”
From The Lion’s Roar: Buddhist teacher Frank Ostaseski has been one of the leading voices in contemplative end-of-life care since the 1980s. In this video, he talks with Lion’s Roar’s Lindsay Kyte about the lessons he’s learned at the bedsides of … Continue reading
Posted in end of life, Religion
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Timothy Leary revisited in serious research
I’ll be attending a conference on Friday October 27th at the UW Law School: Psychedelic Medicine – New Frontiers in Palliative Care. The use of psilocybin, MDMA, marijuana and others will be discussed particularly in relation to palliative and end-of-life … Continue reading
Posted in end of life, Health
1 Comment
Why are African-Americans not completing advance directives?
First a disclaimer. As a Caucasian, I have only personal anecdotal impressions from the African-American patients I have cared for. To me their approaches to end of life decisions were not uniform by any means, but there was clearly often … Continue reading
Posted in end of life, Health, Hospice, Race
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A lethal injection
I entered the exam room as an intravenous catheter was being inserted expertly. The procedure had been explained to me. I wanted to be there to comfort my friend in his last moments. Life had been getting difficult and the … Continue reading
Posted in end of life
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Life support vs. comfort care – not always a clear choice
Ed Note: The following is not an unusual situation. Following an advance directive is not necessarily a clear choice. This young Critical Care physician has an ethical dilemma involving a loved family member. If interested, I have similar stories of … Continue reading
Posted in end of life, Health
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Your Life Your Choices
Below is a video of a program I’ve been involved with for the past 10 years giving presentations at Skyline and a variety of other venues. We all have the rights to make end of life choices and to have them … Continue reading
Posted in end of life, Health
1 Comment
Ralph Waldo Emerson reflects on aging
From the Poetry Foundation: “Ralph Waldo Emerson was a pioneering figure of what is now called “multiculturalism” who expanded the Eastern horizons of generations of American readers and writers, and he persuasively demonstrated how classical Indian, Chinese, and … Continue reading
Posted in Aging Sites, end of life, Essays, Poetry
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Wrongful life from unwanted CPR
Paula Span in the NYT has an interesting and challenging essay about unwanted CPR. Others have also commented on this issue. There are legal, medical, and moral issues involved. I think at Skyline we are more aware of this issue … Continue reading
Posted in end of life
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April 29th film and gathering at nearby Seattle First Baptist Church
Hospice Chaplain Trudy James has spoken previously at Skyline. If you missed viewing her film Speaking of Dying, here’s your chance. I’ll be there! 4 p.m. — FREE SCREENING of the 30-minute film SPEAKING OF DYING, plus a conversation with two physicians … Continue reading
Posted in end of life, Health, Hospice
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“Is Death in Trouble” – from the Hastings Center
Daniel Callahan wonders if death is in trouble. Have we pushed death back so far with the advances in medicine that we no longer die of old age? It’s an interesting thought. Death may be intellectually inevitable but it’s always … Continue reading
Posted in end of life, Health
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