Being Mortal: Illness, Medicine and What Matters in the End

I had not really thought through the issue of quality of living versus safety and medical interventions. BEING MORTAL has been so helpful to start the wheels turning in productive thinking ahead of my own and my husband's golden years and likely decline of our physical bodies. Much to think about after reading this! For anyone of any age who wants to have their views on aging well-thought out and well-formed before needing to make important decisions in this area.Easy to read. Though written by a physician-surgeon, it is understandable by anyone, with warmth and honesty in the writing. Many real-life examples, helpful and relevant.I worked as a nurse's aid at a state nursing home when I was in high school and still have vivid pictures in my mind of dear older folks spending their days doing nothing but sitting in wheelchairs in the hallways, of bare rooms, of institutional clothing and regulated mealtimes etc. Reading this, particularly some of the stories, and statistics on rate of decline in institutions as compared to at home care gives much to think about. Aging in place may be a new term, but the concept is the way things were done before the advent of nursing homes. (of course some cultures just left their sick elderly in the woods to die, but that's another story). What is new in our day is all the help available to make staying in one's home, or with family easier, practical (as far as possible), and so on. One has to ask, "is my family preparing to handle aging in a way that preserves quality of living as much as possible?This book may inspire some going into medicine to consider geriatric medicine, a field that is desparate for more doctors.Well, this read is a breath of fresh air in pointing out how quality of living just might be more important than safety or another medical prodecure. I will read it again as the years accumulate and I want to make good and wish choices for myself and my husband. I've already shared concepts and stories from it with my daughter. It was a great impetus to get us talking about our views for elder care and how we want to approach that if and when help is needed.

a great book about aging! well written and thoughtful!

Bom produto, muito bom custo x benefício. O Vendedor é rápido e eficiente. Recomendado.

Ottimo libro da leggere sia per chi lavora nel settore sanitario che per chi si interessa del tema del fine vita.

This book has opened important doors in my mind and in my conversations to approach the subject of ageing and dying with more openness and knowledge about options. Atul Gawande has provided a great service to our world by addressing this subject that concerns all of us. I believe this book will help us to accompany our families, our friends, ourselves and our society at large to a more heartfull, soulful process around dying that is much more respectful of the lives we are given to live.