End of Life

Dr. Ed's Blog

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Dr. Ed

Jul 10
3 min

Shift the Odds, Win the Game

Battling a virus is not a game. Do you want to play the numbers and bet your life on that?

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May 11
5 min

“Your mother is very sick.” What to do when the doctors have “that talk” with you

We are not deciding who lives or dies. We are deciding what is the best course of treatment for the patient.

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Apr 30
4 min

Who speaks for you when you are gravely ill? You can (if you do this first)

Who speaks for you when you become seriously ill?

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Apr 18
4 min

No One Should Die Alone

Today, dying alone is a reality for patients in the hospital with COVID-19.

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Sep 21, 2019
3 min

The Short Goodbye: How to Visit a Patient in Hospice

We all know etiquette for weddings, and I have written about etiquette at funerals and for visiting patients in the hospital. But no one w...

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Jun 25, 2019
3 min

What to Say (and What NOT to Say) at a Funeral

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Sep 17, 2018
3 min

What Happens When the Family Cannot Agree

The family gathered around the bedside should be a time of peace and forgiveness, not a forum for squabbling and disagreement. Consider t...

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Sep 4, 2018
3 min

"Doc, How Long Do I Have to Live?"

The often-asked question for many of my patients and their families toward the end of life goes something like this: “Okay, Doc, how long...

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