The best care possible
Subtitle: a physician's quest to transform care through the end of life
By: Ira Byock, M.D.
Edition: Large print edition.
Published: 2012
Language: eng
Number of pages: 549
ISBN-13: 9781410452146
Subjects: Palliative Care; Attitude to Death; Quality of life; MEDICAL; Quality of Life; Terminal Care; Palliative treatment; Large type books; Terminal care
Description: It is harder to be seriously ill - and much harder to die - than ever before. These days, we effectively treat diseases, but often overlook the priorities of the people who are ill. As a result, too many Americans suffer needlessly and die badly. Here one of the nation's foremost leaders in palliative care takes us inside a state-of-the-art academic medical center and opens our eyes to an issue that will affect our loved ones, our neighbors, and ourselves.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 495-524) and index.
Table of contents: title: Pt. 1. The best care possible. The best care possible; title: pt. 2. Life-and-death decisions. Between Scylla and Charybdis, a rock and a hard place, and the Devil and the deep blue sea ; Balancing acts: weighing potential benefits against risks and burdens; title: pt. 3. Palliative care: completing the therapeutic continuum. Palliative care: a surprising new specialty (Hint: it's not just for dying) ; Morbidity and mortality; title: pt. 4. Real doctoring for the twenty-first century. What are doctors for? ; The busy day that Sharon died; title: pt. 5. Transforming medicine and society. Fixing health care ; Imagining a care-full society ; Standing on common high ground.