medicine and death – End of Life University

Join Dr. Karen Wyatt, the host of Death Expo, in this conversation with emeregency room physician Dr. Monica Williams-Murphy, author of the award-winning book It’s OK to Die. They will discuss Dr. Williams-Murphy’s mission “to create conditions in which people: plan ahead, make their peace, understand that it is OK to die naturally, and make educated choices which allow them to pass away peacefully and comfortably surrounded by those who love them most.”

In this interview you will learn:

the tragic consequences of being unprepared for the end-of-life
the factors that have contributed to our cultural change in attitude toward death and dying
how to prepare for the death of a loved one – understanding the physical changes associated with dying
how to make peace with death and let go at the end-of-life
what doctors need to know in order to offer better care at the end-of-life

Support this podcast and End-of-Life University Interview Series by donating at Patreon.com/eolu!

In this episode Dr. Wyatt begins with a brief discussion about Memorial Day and the need for people to come together and recognize our shared humanity during this time of deep polarization in US society.

Discussion includes:

Study in the UK shows group meals for dementia patients lead to better health and quality of life
NYC passed a law to protect family caregivers from being terminated from their jobs due to their caregiving duties
Journal of Oncology reports that black women with breast cancer are 14% less likely to receive hospice care and 59% more likely to die in the hospital, compared to white women with breast cancer
Palliate Guide is a new app for smart phones that contains basic palliative care guidelines and opiate prescribing tools
Study done at UCSF shows gap between doctors’ estimations of patient survival rates and surrogates estimates; surrogates were much more optimistic about survival but doctors were more accurate
Survey shows nephrologists have difficulty recommending palliative or hospice care for patients with end-stage renal disease and knowing when to withdraw dialysis
Early palliative care is associated with less stress and depression for family caregivers later on during the illness
Dr. Seamus O’Mahony from Cork University in Ireland has been quoted as saying, regarding end-of-life care: “Our needs are spiritual, not medical.”

Much love to all from Dr. Karen Wyatt! If you enjoy this podcast please consider offering your support on our Patreon page at patreon.com/eolu

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