Medical Humanities: the Rx for Uncertainty? Renowned physician author Danielle Ofri makes the case for how the humanities offer not only well-being for physicians but also make us better doctors through growing wisdom from knowledge and building creativity, all of which help us embrace the inherent uncertainty in medicine.
Say her name: Dr. Susan Moore Op ed about the life and death of Dr. Susan Moore, a black family physician who died of COVID in December, after recording a post relating her racist treatment while a patient.
PPE-clad doctor comforts lonely elderly covid 19 patient The doctor's new role: family member, hug, hand...heartbreaking photo shows PPE-clad doctor comforting lonely, elderly covid-19 patient
Reentry This is a NEJM perspective piece written by a palliative care doctor in NYC in light of the COVID pandemic. A snippet: "From March to June 2020, I led a palliative care team embedded in our hospital’s Covid ICU. We spoke to countless families over the phone and by Zoom calls to tell them their loved ones were critically ill, getting sicker, and eventually, dying. When the prognosis seemed dire, we recommended transitioning to comfort-focused care. And in patients’ final hours and days, we held iPads at their bedsides so that family members around the world could say goodbye."
As they rush to save lives, health care workers are updating their own wills and funeral plans The coronavirus crisis has forced those at the front lines of treatment to confront their own mortality. This article highlights a former Navy ER physician.
Dying Father has Last First Dance with Daughter by Gabe Gutierrez Video and short text - Rachel Wolf had always dreamed of her wedding - gown, makeup, guests, and family. When her father, Dr. James Wolf, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had only 3 months to live, she knew she had to find a way, groom or no groom, to have a first dance with him.
Let’s Talk About Dying by Peter Saul A discussion of the success of intensive care and how that has impacted how we die, and how we react to others’ death in the 21st Century.
Bedside Manner: Conversation with Patients About Death - Dr. Pauline Chen & Dr. Beth Lown Doctors often struggle with conversations about death. A reflection on how difficult situations can be made even more so when doctors are less than forthcoming about death and dying.