Allowing death to arrive naturally, as desired
The sage doctor who stood at the bedside as I held my dying grandmother said, “We seem to die one organ at a time.” I, however, have come to believe that we are too focused on the failing of the organs to rightly perceive the dying of the person. Death comes in many different ways, […]
Psychoactive drugs and death terror
Posted by Charles If you are interested in knowing more about how psilocybin, the ingredient in magic mushrooms, can reduce, even eliminate, depression, anxiety and terror in end-stage cancer patients, you should read this article in the New York Times. One patient, Pam Sauda, spoke of how “‘I began to realize that all of this […]
Funerals from around the world – Swaziland
Whoops! Should have posted this yesterday. NGUDZENI – The funeral of King Maja II, leader of the Mamba clan was unique in more ways than one. He was buried in the morning yesterday inside a cattle byre. Secondly, his body was carried in a specially designed casket worth E25 000, bought from Dups Funeral Home Services. King Maja II, whose […]
How to Talk End-of-Life Care with a Dying Patient – Atul Gawande
Four questions a doctor needs to ask a person who is dying: 1. Do you know your prognosis? 2. What are your fears about what is to come? 3. What are your goals? What would you like to do as time runs short? 4. What tradeoffs are you willing to make? How much suffering are […]
