The other night I found myself frozen in front of the television as I watched a couple work out the details of the husband’s end-of-life care. It was heartbreaking and brave. It was also frightening when I imagined myself in their shoes.
This couple was being interviewed because they were at an unusual hospital where self-directed care was the norm. As hard as it was, patients were empowered by making their choices for their end-of-life care with their physician. As a result, patients could devote their time and energy to their loved ones and to the activities they enjoyed the most.
In a typical visit to the doctor we can all understand how easy it is to forget questions we need to ask and to sometimes not understand what the doctor is telling us. The fault lies on both sides. Doctors and patients can make mistakes in communication that can result in serious consequences. Furthermore, if the patient does not understand her situation, how can she explain it to her family members?
Needless to say, I was primed for the topic, when a friend recommended Critical Decisions by Dr. Peter A. Ubel, a physician and behavioral scientist. Dr. Ubel has combined his own research in doctor/patient relationships with his personal experience of caring for loved ones during difficult times. With Dr. Ubel’s compassionate reflection on medical care choices, Critical Decisions shows how patients and doctors can improve their communication skills.
Initially, this book made me uneasy, but once I read Dr. Ubel’s stories I felt I could use these lessons to make better decisions and increase my quality of life. I like what Dr. Ubel says in his bio: “My research and writing explores the quirks in human nature that influence our lives — the mixture of rational and irrational forces that affect our health, our happiness and the way our society functions. My goal is to show you, in an entertaining way, why the key to living better, healthier lives, and improving the societies we live in, is to understand human nature.”
Critical Decisions by Peter A. Ubel, M.D. September 2012, HarperOne.
This review of Critical Decisions was featured on The Book Shelf of Mississippi’s very own Well-Being magazine. We are proud to contribute to Well-Being and always enjoy working with the Well-Being team. Mississippi is lucky to have such a great magazine and Lemuria has copies to pick-up for free at the Fiction Desk! Well-Being magazine is great way to keep up with local healthy events and fitness activities. You can also follow Well-Being on Facebook.
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