Author: Phyllis Shacter

Often we don’t think about the other side of the end of the community that is just as important in the death and dying process on the medical side. This is an excellent article. Although this article was written a couple of years ago, all of the information is current. We seem to be moving at a snail’s pace in terms of developing good communication tools between doctors and their patients. We’re all going to die. None of us know in advance how they will occur. We will all end our lives more peacefully and with greater dignity if we start having end of life conversations while we are still healthy.

What Doctor’s Don’t Learn About Death and Dying

The biggest legacy my husband left me, when he decided to voluntarily stop eating and drinking rather than live into the late stages of Alzheimer’s, was his courageous demonstration of how he faced his own death. It made me look at my own fear of death that I have carried around with me for most of my life. In my upcoming book, “Choosing To Die, I share my own journey about how my husband’s death affected me and freed me from my own fear of dying. The book will be available on Amazon about April 9, 2017.

As states are beginning to pass end of life option acts, debates are beginning for how to fund end of life option programs.

In Massachusetts, as many states are beginning to pass end of life option acts, debates are beginning for funding end of life option programs with surveys from 25,000 physicians and medical students. It is notable that more and more people want end of life options. Positive physician-patient relationships regarding end of life are dependent on having your personal wishes written in an advance health directive. It is the only way to have a clear communication about your wishes at the end of life. Debates go both ways, but end of life options are important for everyone. There is no one choice.  For people suffering with terminal illnesses,  their last days can turn into months if doctors keep them alive with invasive procedures rather than focusing on the best quality of death. The end of life movement is creating compassionate conversation. No one wants to suffer at the end of their life. 

For full article see here.

This study shows that having an advance directive is extremely important for those in nursing facilities. Especially for dialysis patients, an advance directive will enhance end of life care based on the patient’s preferences and values. Those with an advance directive explained when they wanted to stop dialysis or reject invasive surgeries. Without these instructions patients are routinely treated and go put through medical procedures without their say because it is not specified. Advance directives are the best way that your wishes can be explained in end of life care.

Many nursing home residents with renal disease lack advance directives to address end-of-life care

In June 2016 California became the 5th state to allow assisted dying. Ray Perman was diagnosed with cancer and instead of fearing his death he embraced it with living life to the fullest. Ray set goals about what he wanted to experience in the final days of his life. He decided to take advantage of the death with dignity law. He took advantage of this by taking medication and was surrounded by his loved ones at the time of his death.

“I will have my closest loved ones around me when I do that. I’ll have an open house in the morning for my friends to give me a hug goodbye and then we’ll probably do the deed in the afternoon. Then my family can have time with my body in the evening, as long as they’d like. And I have a complete description on where to dispose of my ashes. It’ll be in the departure path of a Boeing aircraft that took off with my father, on an outgoing tide.”

Bay Area Cancer Patient Confronts and Embraces His Right to Die

End Of Life University is starting 2017 with a death positive movement to change the fear of dying into embracing a human experience that everyone has. This page lists a seven step plan about how death can become positive in our lives, with important links and information for EVERYONE.

7 Inspirational

End Of Life University

B.J. Miller, after a tragic accident,  began to positively think about how medicine and dying are connected. He has been an advocate for palliative care. A patient Sloan was nearing death as a 20-something year old. Eventually through medical advice from Miller, he entered Zen Hospice where he continued to receive good care and hospice became his family. Zen Hospice is a place not only to be comfortable but how to transcendent experience into death.  Zen Hospice’s mission is to change death from a medical point of view into a human experience.

B.J. Miller has taken it upon himself  to change the way we think about death and how it doesn’t have to be a feared experience. View his TEDTalk here.

In preparation for his death, my husband did a lot of inter searching and was able to move past the fear of the unknown, and to think about how he wanted to die. He chose to pass away with his loved ones. I was there by his side when he passed.

This article in the New York times shows the amazing work that B.J. Miller is doing.