Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End | Atul Gawande | Talks at Google

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Surgeon, public health researcher, and MacArthur fellow Atul Gawande discusses his #1 NY Times bestseller, "Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End."

Modern medicine has transformed the dangers of birth, injury, and infectious disease from harrowing to manageable. But when it comes to the inescapable realities of aging and death, what medicine can do often runs counter to what it should do. Through eye-opening research and gripping stories of his own patients and family, Gawande reveals the suffering produced by medicine’s neglect of the wishes people might have beyond mere survival. To find out what those wishes are, we need to ask. We haven’t been asking, but we can learn. Riveting, honest, and humane, this remarkable book, which has already changed the national conversation on aging and death, shows how the ultimate goal is not a good death but a good life—all the way to the very end.

Moderated by Tom Smith.
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I had the fortune of being referred to Dr Gawande when I was diagnosed with cancer. Not only is he a marvelous surgeon, he is an amazing human being and I can’t recommend his books highly enough. I have them all and think everyone should read Being Mortal. It will change the way you think about life and dying.

kathiegalbreath
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I'm a Psychology student and this book is required reading for our class. This is beautiful and I'm grateful ❤️

amber
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This man is amazing. Everyone in healthcare should be required to watch this. Dying is part of living. And everyone deserves dignity and choices in the end of life.

BenniesExpressionsoftheHeart
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This is SUCH an important area to discuss. We, as a society, must stop being afraid to confront mortality. Our discomfort with it leads us to avoid thinking about it until we are suddenly faced with the death of a loved one or of ourselves. And then it's easy to just get into a panic and decide to try anything, or to feel numb and let doctors make the decisions. Everyone should consider what they want for themelves, and ask their loved ones these sort of questions about what intervention is not worth it and what should be done if they lose their mental faculties.

pseudonamed
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This excellent book is about how medicine treats patients as their lives come to an end. The writing is clear, and concise, the information extensive but not at all confusing. What a brilliant introduction to this remarkable book. Thanks

trainghiemsanpham
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Medicine combined with compassion, understanding and humanity.

TheSaba
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I know this is an old video, but it made me mad! My husband died at the age of 44 of cancer in 2009. We were given the option of hospice four days before he died. He was already unconscious by then. I was told by the doctor four days before he died, "You can do hospice, but it will take a while to set up. He may not live long enough." We should have been given the option of hospice. It would have made the last three weeks of his life so much more enjoyable and at peace and mine filled with so much less anxiety and our kids...it would have been huge for them. I do feel lucky that I was able to be there with him in the hospital when he died, but he would have loved to see his coworkers, his students, and his team one last time. While watching this video, what took me by surprise was how sad (and angry) I feel, almost 15 years later, that we weren't given that chance because they tried to keep him alive when really it was over weeks before. I just feel heartbroken at the moment. Everyone who loved him deserved better.

ActsofLove
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He is more than wonderful. So many are Doctors but when you see the ones with a touch of divine call, it is always obvious.

AniebonamVivian
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I worked at a huge hospice for years. Consider becoming a hospice volunteer if u have a couple hrs a wk… you can read to a patient, run an errand, drive them to a medical appt., fix a meal, listen to their stories, give the caregiver a break, bring the outside world to them, give love. Many patients are alone much of the time. In nursing homes or assisted living facilities they may have few visitors. Not everyone in hospice is bedridden. Many are still up & around, & others are in wheelchairs, and can be taken outside for a walk.
So many options, and such an important time in a person’s life, when the friends often disappear.

janetpattison
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Excellent topic and discussion of very complex issues. I appreciate Dr. Gawande's particular focus and am thankful we have someone so articulate to speak so concisely from the foundations of data and experience. It is important to have multiple voices speaking to the need to improve quality of life care for the potentially extended time period of the individual's end of life phase. I found much of value in this talk, including the discussion of systems issues and the history of how and why current medical systems/models developed.

For me personally it is both a matter of the quality of the life I have left to live and the quality of the process of my dying. I see these as intricately intertwined issues. In this talk I didn't hear about the cases where (physical) pain or other symptoms cannot be well managed. I suspect there will always be outlier cases no matter how much systems improve. I don't think end-of-life care can be comprehensive without including a place for the possibility of hastening death as part of a full palette of options.

I look forward to hearing more around these issues as the social discussions continue and evolve.

bearwomansden
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What a noble idea! Have a conversation with patient and follow through to do what the patient wants

johnyii
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A fascinating conversation! I'd love it if tech companies could figure out how to protect seniors from online scams while making it easier for them to navigate two-factor authentication, for example.

jenniferwaters
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Dr Gawande rocks ! I loved his book The Checklist Manifesto & am sure will love all his books !

DharmendraRaiMindMap
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Such a fine soul of a doctor... My beloved young brother did just like the piano teacher, with the difference that he reached his goal, not with the help of doctors but against them. He mastered that, and after his death (sep. 2016 aged 59) that is what has made me peaceful, I was / still am released that the doctors could't spoil his last months of life (6). He simply went on holidays with his two clever wonderful girlfriends and visited me on his travel. He spoke then about his death. I love his rebelled big heart.

edwigcarol
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Excellent information. My Dr. just advised me about Dr. Gawande. Deep gratitude

kallasusort
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Everyone - truly everyone - needs to learn about and consider these critical issues. If we were less squeamish about death and dying and better able to see it as a NATURAL course of life, we would do FAR LESS to prolong life merely for its own sake (as if it were the highest value). Physicians need to be able to escort us not only to the operating room but also through the final days weeks and months of our lives so that WE can live according to OUR highest values when we have little time left.

rosalindglazer
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I learned so much from the documentary. It was tough to watch but so worthwhile.

eltonjohn
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It didn't take a surgeon to figure this out but I'm glad he's speaking up. Many patients feel pressured to take treatment they do not want to keep their family or doctor happy.

kristinemeints
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I’m a 22 year old violinist and insurance professional, currently reading this book let’s see how it goes, wishing you all a great day

yacoubgirgis
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"I would worry if anyone thought this was simple" - love that line

columbusmyhw