“It’s normal to die” – Book criticism

Contributed by:
Dr Michael Cruz, Vice -President of Quality and Security – OSF Saint Francis Medical Center

It seems that a reasonable starting point is at the end. There are few constants in this world such as entropy, God, change and death. It’s good to die By Dr. Monica Williams-Murphy addresses the last and allows the reader to understand the opportunity we all have to help patients take the measures they need to die in a way they want.

It seems so simple and consistent with what we do in health care that it should be obvious. The reality for many patients and their families is that they are isolated, in crisis and have engaged in a badly informed decision -making process that could be avoided.

Dr. Williams-Murphy and her husband, Kristian, helps the reader understand how to set up a sustainable proxy, a life testament, advanced directives, resuscitation orders (DNR) and the new life processing doctor (POLST). These are nuts and critical bolts that any health worker and the person should have practical knowledge of the dependence on their role at work or in their family.

Dr. Williams-Murphy is an emergency doctor, and her and her husband tell real personal and professional scenarios who are familiar to many of us. These experiences create the platform so that we can improve the way we engage our patients in important death conversations.

The authors offer specific suggestions on how to deal with sensitive subjects such as the suspension of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, palliative care, comfort care measures, suffering and terminal phase, while avoiding the discussion of euthanasia. They masterfully illustrate that clinicians can be reluctant to admit that the medical profession cannot repair everything and how to educate medical staff so that they can have this conversation and obtain a clear understanding and direction according to the wishes of patients and their families.

Finally, they devote several chapters to the problems created by our social and cultural aversion to death. By avoiding critical conversations, clear communications and direct commitment of patients, we live in the results we have created.

The authors are concise and precise, so it was a quick and painless reading. I would highly recommend this book (I would give it an 8 out of 10) and even classify it as an essential reading for sons, girls, mothers, dads, grandparents, health workers, spouses, etc. – Above all those who have less parents Adam and Eve!

Last update: November 6, 2018