A doctor learns about death by caring for her husband at the end of his life.
My guest Dr. Martha Calihan has been a practicing physician for over 30 years but she didn’t learn about the end of life until she became a caregiver for her ill husband. She shares how she navigated those challenging days and how being a caregiver made her a better doctor. She is the author of A Death Lived – a memoir of her end-of-life journey with her husband Charles. Learn more at her website:
This episode includes:
- How an Integrative medical provider differs from a conventionally-trained physician
- The challenges of playing dual roles of wife and physician
- What doctors can do better to help patients and families navigate the end of life
- Making medical decisions when the patient’s health status is constantly changing
- The freedom that comes from “speaking the unspeakable”
- One valuable question doctors need to ask caregivers: “If you come home and [your loved one] is unresponsive, do you know what you would do?”
- Tips for having the “death talk” with loved ones
- How to decide when it’s time to say no to medical interventions
- The gift of Near Death Awareness and how it helps with fear and grief
It’s more beautiful than you could ever imagine.
Charles’ last words – from “A Death Lived”
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Pre-order 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying here
- Libby app
- Dr. Calihan’s book: A Death Lived
- Five Wishes document
- Final Gifts by Maggie Callanan
- Join the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously!
If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes! Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my newest Patrons: Molly Oldfield and Lisa Rivera. Your contributions make all the difference!
In Part 4 of our series on palliative care I share an interview with Stephanie Ryu a palliative care chaplain. She’ll discuss her role providing spiritual support to patients with advanced illness. 
My awesome Spain trip is at an end as this episode airs and I’ll be making my way back to Colorado! You can check out all of my pictures on 
This episode is the first of a 4-part series that introduces you to the members of a palliative care team. Today Dr. Colin Scibetta discusses his role as the physician on the team and how palliative care differs from hospice care. In future episodes you’ll hear from the team nurse, social worker and chaplain.
As this episode airs I am enjoying a trip through Spain, including cycling in the Andalucia region! I’ll be back home in a few weeks to report on the trip. Follow me on Instagram to see my photos at kwyattmd or this link: 