What Is A “Natural” Death, Anyway?
May 23, 2013
by: Alex Smith, @alexsmithMD Eric kicked off the week posting about a study comparing use of the phrase “Allow Natural…
Changing the Default Code Status to DNR for Seriously Ill Patients
May 21, 2013
by: Alex Smith @alexsmithMD What if the above form was the default for patients with serious illness? Most current advance directive…
Most Patients with Incurable Cancer Think Chemo Might Cure Them
October 25, 2012
Deer Valley, Utah, from our lodge at the NPCRC retreat I’m at the National Palliative Care Research Center’s Annual Foley…
Sometimes It’s Just a Way to Die
September 29, 2012
During my senior year of residency, I brought an elderly gentleman to the operating room with peritonitis and a benign-appearing…
What is Meaningful Interaction?
June 26, 2012
I recently cared for a 96 year old woman who was rehospitalized for a recurrent infection (identifying details altered to…
When Surrogates Override the DNR: A Terrific Geriatrics and Palliative Care Teaching Video
March 6, 2012
I’d like to draw GeriPal readers’ attention to a terrific article from the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society called, “When…
Asian Cultural Taboo Impedes End-of-Life Care?
August 16, 2011
Last week, I started interviewing clinicians who care for frail elders at On Lok Lifewaysas part of a study led…
The Effects of DNR Orders on Post-Surgical Outcomes
April 24, 2011
If you happened to read WebMD the other day you would have seen an article with the headlines ‘DNR Orders…
The Clinician’s Role in Identifying Loss of Financial Capacity
February 15, 2011
“Mom’s been writing goofy checks…” “Dad stopped paying his bills….” “Grandma wired her savings to Nigeria…” Have you heard these phrases…
Legal Restrictions Compromise Effectiveness of Advance Directives
January 23, 2011
Imagine that you are caring for Ted, a patient in hospice who would like to go from Los Angeles to…