Redesigning Dying
September 10, 2015
Dying is in serious need of a redesign. This is the point of BJ Miller’s TED talk that was given…
Fatal Falls Rising in Older Adults
May 7, 2015
Figure 2. (above) Age-adjusted death rates, by cause of death among adults aged 65 and over: United States, 2000–2013 The…
Healthy Dying… An important part of healthy aging
April 14, 2015
By: Paul Tatum @doctatum This year the Obama administration will convene the 2015 White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA). The…
Knocking on Heaven’s Door: A Book Review
September 9, 2014
“Knocking on Heaven’s Door” by Katie Butler is a book that will resonate with most of our GeriPal readership. In…
Is Deactivating a Cardiac Pacemaker Euthanasia?
September 4, 2014
“He’d feel okay about not replacing the pacemaker’s battery when it ran down, he said. But turning it off, he…
After Pronouncing
June 30, 2014
The following post is adapted from something I read at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Geriatrics, Palliative, and Extended Care…
July Mind, Beginner’s Mind: Teaching Imminent Death
July 20, 2013
Shunryu Suzuki by Robert Boni “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind” is a collection of talks by the late Zen MasterShunryu Suzuki. The…
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…
What is your patient’s PPD status?
February 21, 2013
Bree Johnston, a true believer in geriatrics and palliative care, contributor to GeriPal, and erstwhile colleague at UCSF, recently returned…
When Religious Beliefs are at Odds with a Natural Death
August 8, 2012
Note: The details of the story have been changed to protect patient anonymity. We recently cared for a patient with…