… the second part of Billings’ article on family meetings in the ICU setting. “A key point: the clinical team ideally will make clear, strong recommendation to the family, based on the patient’s wishes, rather than asking family members what they want to have done.”
family centered decision making … Read More »
“To be able to stand up and face the death of another person, you have to first be able to stand up and face yours … and in that way you look for the sense of your life. Otherwise you really remain shocked and speechless.” Irene’s Eyes – Casadei ed. p. 31
Pope Benedict’s general prayer intention for October is: “That the terminally ill may be supported by their faith in God and the love of their brothers and sisters.”
praying for our patients … Read More »
The Word climbs up slowly out of the silence in the child, and the words of old men and women are slow, too, as they•return to the silence that is the end of life. Like a burden that has grown too heavy the word falls out of the mouth of the old, more down into
the silence of death … Read More »
Imperative 1 To serve selflessly our dying brothers and sisters who come into our care. Whatever material success we doctors have achieved is not of our own design. Society has valued our services and agreed to compensate us well for our efforts on its behalf. Have we lived up to our end of the bargain?
selfless service … Read More »
Imperative 2 To meet the real needs of the dying. What dying patients need first and foremost is a safe environment. They need to know that our care for them is not contingent upon something they do or do not do. They need to know that we care about them as persons worthy of dignity
safe … accompany … presence … Read More »
Imperative 3 To guide but never lead. We have great knowledge and must use it wisely. We are called by the dying to be their guides through this final passage. It is the height of arrogance to believe we can somehow lead them through the end of life, step-by-step. We are simply to be guides
to guide … to accompany … Read More »
… when their loved one is seriously ill … assure their loved one is receiving high quality care provide appropriate information adequate time to share perspectives and concerns accurate information about prognosis empathic communication and support trust anticipatory grief and bereavement from Billing’s End of Life Family Meeting Part I: Indications, Outcomes, and Family Needs
Imperative 4 To be honest. Nothing can shatter a relationship more quickly and more completely than dishonesty. To be sure, we do not hit people over the head with the truth they are not prepared to hear. That would be cruel. We must rigorously avoid a self-serving deflection of crucial issues and truths in order
honest, gentle and kind … Read More »
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.
