Too Late To Operate? Surgery Near End Of Life Is Common, Costly
Nearly 1 in 3 Medicare patients undergoes an operation in the final year of life. The benefits are often limited, but the costs and side effects can be substantial.
end of life care
When A Tattoo Means Life Or Death. Literally
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.
Reverberations Of War Complicate Vietnam Veterans' End-Of-Life Care
For Vietnam veterans who have lived a lifetime with the memories of war, what some say they want in death is often more nuanced and complicated than a civilian's desire.
Should Eye Surgeons Fulfill A Dying Man's Wish To See His Family?
An eye doctor was surprised when some of her colleagues questioned whether a man dying of cancer should have cataract surgery. Was it justified when he could "use" those new lenses just a few weeks?
Rural Hospice That Spurns Federal Funds Has Offered Free Care for 40 Years
The founder of a tiny Washington state hospice that depends on community volunteers and donations says the unconventional approach allows for more flexible care.
For Decades These Caregivers Helped Patients, Families Through Illness And Death
When the Rev. Noel Hickie and Marcia Hilton began working in hospice care, neither was sure they were cut out for the job. But they realized they could help families process grief and make things OK.
Aid-In-Dying Requires More Than Just A Law, Californians Find
In the year since the state enacted a law allowing doctors to prescribe lethal drugs for terminal patients who request it, over 500 people have sought that help. But some doctors are still reluctant.
Our Last Year Together: What My Camera Captured As My Parents Died Of Cancer
Photographer Nancy Borowick captured her parents' deep love and joy in life, even as they endured treatment in their 50s for the cancers they knew would soon kill them.
Can Comfort Care At The ER Help Older People Live Longer And Suffer Less?
Many older patients have problems that an emergency room is ill-equipped to handle, but often there is nowhere else to go. So some hospitals are adding palliative care consultants to the front lines.
Why Immortality Is Overrated
Before a health crisis hits, think deeply about the care you want and what you'd like to avoid. Make sure your family and your doctor understand your wishes, says John Henning Schumann.