death and dying

First-aider practising chest compressions on a CPR training dummy.

Health & Safety

A 'natural death' may be preferable for many than enduring CPR

12:20pm May 29, 2023

by Clay Dalton

Despite its reputation as a lifesaver, for the elderly and medically frail, CPR may cause more harm than good. It's why many doctors opt not to receive it themselves.

Beautiful white cat, breed Siberian Neva Masquerade in a plastic collar

A veterinarian says pets have a lot to teach us about love and grief

4:53pm March 13, 2023

by Dave Davies

Karen Fine says "I feel like I learn from my patients all the time. ... They really have skills and senses that we don't." Her new memoir is The Other Family Doctor.

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The for-profit hospice industry has grown, allowing more Americans to die at home. But few family members realize that "hospice care" still means they'll do most of the physical and emotional work.

Health & Safety

Patients Want To Die At Home, But Home Hospice Care Can Be Tough On Families

11:07am January 21, 2020

by Blake Farmer

The for-profit hospice industry has grown, allowing more Americans to die at home. But few family members realize that "hospice care" still means they'll do most of the physical and emotional work.

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From 2012 through 2016, federal health inspectors cited 87% of U.S. hospices for deficiencies. And 20% had lapses serious enough to endanger patients, according to two new reports from the HHS Inspector General's Office.

HHS Inspector General Finds Serious Flaws In 20% Of U.S. Hospice Programs

1:48pm July 09, 2019

by Ina Jaffe

Two new reports from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have found widespread problems in hospice care and say the government needs to open its scorecards on hospice care to the public.

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Belmont University's nursing program started hiring actors like Vickie James to help with their end-of-life simulations for students.

Health & Safety

Morphine, And A Side Of Grief Counseling: Nursing Students Learn How To Handle Death

12:23pm January 19, 2019

by Blake Farmer

Research has found that university curriculum often goes light on one of life's universal experiences — dying. So some colleges have gone to new lengths to make the training more meaningful.

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A few weeks after Javon Johnigan's shooting death on Sept. 3, 2016, his 8-year-old son Jamai demonstrates how he takes selfies with a life-size cutout of his father. Originally made for the funeral and the repast, Jamai keeps the cutout of his dad behind

National

Life-Size Cutouts Help Extend The Relationship With Lost Loved Ones In New Orleans

2:00pm January 14, 2019

In New Orleans, the lifelike representations have become a part of the city's tradition of social grieving and are a source of healing, especially in communities that have suffered from gun violence.

A moment from Embodied Labs' virtual reality video of Clay Crowder, a fictional 66-year-old man with incurable lung cancer. In this scene, Clay's family gathers around his bed, reassuring him that it's OK to let go of life.

Virtual Reality Helps Hospice Workers See Life And Death Through A Patient's Eyes

12:18pm December 27, 2018

by Kathleen Burge

A Maine medical school and nearby hospice center are trying out a VR program aimed at fostering more empathy for dying patients among health workers-in-training. Not everyone is sold on the idea.

Doctors in Miami found that a man's tattoo expressing his end-of-life wishes was more confusing than helpful.

When A Tattoo Means Life Or Death. Literally

4:24pm January 21, 2018

by Rebecca Hersher

A gravely ill man arrives at the hospital, alone and unconscious, with a tattoo across his chest: "Do Not Resuscitate." It sparks deep conversation about end-of-life care in America.

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A recent study shows a link between high discharge rates for live patients and hospice profit margins.

Nearly 1 In 5 Hospice Patients Discharged While Still Alive

12:41pm August 11, 2017

by Ina Jaffe

The hospices that discharge the most patients before their death also make the most money, a recent study shows.

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A photo of a patient receiving care in the hospital.

Doctor Considers The Pitfalls Of Extending Life And Prolonging Death

2:28pm January 30, 2017

In Modern Death, Dr. Haider Warraich says a slow dying process, during which patients move in and out of hospitals or nursing homes, is a "very recent development in our history as a species."

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