*OUR_MORTALITY
Atul Gawande's book, Being Mortal, explores how people can live with their conditions and age-related frailty while still making emotionally vital healthcare decisions for themselves. Gawande argues that healthcare providers should show their patients respect and dignity at the end of their lives, contributing to substantial medical advancements and respect for personalized autonomy.
It is interesting how Scholars have studied the various aspects of medical development in societies for a long time, but rarely do we hear or learn about the practical decisions that have been bartered through a cocktail of murky emotions. Two main categories of societies when it comes to death: those that prefer to die at home, rooted in the sense of spiritual peace, and those who prefer to die in institutions, not always by choice but because they get stuck in a system bigger than them, they may feel powerless to make hard calls for themselves.
Modern medical development has always characterized the emergence of new scientific actions against diseases, but at what cost and for how long? As the reading implied, it is always a 50/50 outcome to go either natural or with the use of technology, and it is the individual living the moment decision in their time of reflection. I want to stay as mobile and pain-free as possible till the end, and when that time comes, I would prefer to be cremated or buried as a tree pod, back on the earth where we all began. I have spoken with my family regarding end-of-life care and DNR orders, and they understand and respect my wishes.
Most opt for a traditional funeral that involves attending a church to honor and remember fond memories of their loved ones. It usually consists in viewing the body before the burial or cremation, a wake, and a ceremony with speeches about our legacy. People will choose how they celebrate my life, but I get to decide how I choose my last breath and how I am laid to rest. Communication is vital to how we receive the treatment we plan.
When providing this information to a future doctor, I am comfortable with them talking to me directly. I prefer the interpretive or informative style of speech, as it allows me to make informed decisions regarding end-of-life care. In chapter 7, Gawande notes how "he only began to recognize how understanding the finitude of one's time could be a gift. Moreover, it was only after his father was diagnosed that he realized his sanity was tied to his routine. The best state of being to accept is sometimes to continue one's daily life as they always had" (Gawande, 2014, p. 209), as continuing your life as best you can, maybe the only option left indeed.
Having a shared decision-making process would take away my freedom and autonomy. In medical and social control, paternalism refers to the idea that a physician can make decisions for a patient. Although patients may not always be able to make their own decisions, this type of control can be used when incapacitated, to which I have made my stance and choices pretty clear thus far. One typical example of this is when a physician prescribes a treatment without explaining the benefits and risks of that procedure but wants the patient to trust their enthusiasm just because they are a doctor.
The title alone does not sway me if it is something I have already made peace with before death. Being more interpretive and less paternalistic in communication with patients is an essential aspect of being a physician we must all comprehend. It can also help improve the quality of care that patients receive. A reasonable bedside manner is critical for several reasons, such as maintaining the trust and keeping patients satisfied. One of the most vital factors affecting patients' quality of care is paternalism.
This power can lead to patients feeling that they need to be understood and treated shift properly. Interpretive communication can help improve the outcomes of both patients and doctors. Due to the increasing number of physicians involved in the decision-making process regarding end-of-life healthcare, some believe they need to be qualified to speak about this topic.
This difficult decision is the main reason why some believe that they should not be the ones making the final decision. Getting through the dying process can be incredibly challenging and requires much courage. However, many resources can help you get through pain management. One of the most challenging factors about aging and dying is the loss of our loved ones. It is an unfortunate part of life, and most of us are unprepared for it. Some people only think writing a will is enough; it is a start but sitting down with family and having a conversation on end-of-life care affects everyone involved.
Like when Gawande spoke of his father's wishes to not be in pain, his wife did not want to remember him in a drug-induced state. His mother desperately held on to his memory, even so far as to want him to feel anything, "maybe if he had a little pain, he would wake up," she said, her eyes welling. "he still has so much he can do" (Gawande, 2014, p. 255). Most quality of life is lost on others just unwillingness to accept the reality of our mortalities.
The right strategy depends on your preferences and what you want to achieve with your life. It is essential to consider what other people will feel when you die. For instance, if you have children, there will likely be mixed emotions. Some may be happy that they have become independent adults, while others may be sad due to the loss of their parents. Having a legacy is important for parents to ensure their children and grandchildren know who they are and where they came from ancestrally. If you have no children, then friends and relatives hopefully thought fond of you to assist with your end-of-life care.
Some of my biggest takeaways from The book, "Being Mortal" by Atul Gawande is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of medicine, aging, and death. He explores how doctors, patients, and families make decisions about care at the end of life. Gawande takes us on a journey through some of his most challenging cases—patients and their families struggling with some of the most difficult choices we face. He looks at innovative ways that doctors are responding to our aging society—such as new models for delivering home-based care for seniors—and how these changes are being driven by economics as much as by advances in medical science.
Through compelling stories from his patients' lives, Gawande reveals what matters most to us when we are most vulnerable - whether it has enough money to live on, finding joy in small things, or knowing that someone will be there for us at the end. Changing one's perspective when diagnosed with a severe illness is important because it will help reduce the risk of stress, depression, and anxiety. My takeaway is that this book gave me more confidence in my path towards aging informed gracefully, as we can only do so much.
However, I have covered a good portion of my end-of-life experience and regardless of when you start planning, do so with a loving heart and practical spirit whenever it is time to let go. The best line to close this discussion is quoted from the text "when to shift from pushing against limits to making the best of them is not often readily apparent. But it is clear that there are times when the cost of pushing exceeds its value" (Gawande, 2014, p. 262).
JAH
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References
Gawande, A. (2014). Being mortal: Medicine and what matters in the end. New York, NY: Metropolitan Books.
