Epidsode 4: Reflection on the Book The Conversation: A Revolutionary Plan For End-of-Life Care
Dec 05, 2023
Santiago and Honey Bueno are back and, in this episode, they are having an honest, from-the-heart conversation about The Conversation: A Revolutionary Plan for End-of-Life Care by Angelo Volandes, M.D.
What do you need to have ready for your conversation with those that matter most to you?
To help answer this question, Santiago and Honey read The Conversation: A Revolutionary Plan for End-of-Life Care, the book written by Angelo Volandes, M.D.
He argues for a “radical revisioning of the patient-doctor relationship to ensure patients are at the center of and in control of their medical care.”
Santiago reminds us that it’s best to have these conversations when you’re clear of mind and your emotions and those of your loved ones are in check.
Step one: Identify what matters most to you.
- What’s important to you? What makes you happy?
- What fears do you have about medical care?
- If you are ill, identify life-saving measures that are too much for you.
- Do you have beliefs that guide you when you make important decisions?
Honey and Santiago share their answers to some of these key questions. Remember, this is a place to start. Santiago reminds us that these aren’t going to something you answer quickly, and they might change over time as life circumstances change.
Be clear about your wishes. If you are facing a serious or terminal illness, they discuss additional questions that Dr. Volandes outlined to help guide you. Honey and Santiago explain how these can help you begin to make decisions for your end-of-life care.
Step two: Share the answers to the questions with your loved ones.
Have the conversation. It’s also important to document what you’ve decided. You can even record a video explaining your thoughts so it’s clear how you came to these decisions.
Step three: Talk with your doctor.
Dr. Volandes provides a few questions that can help you with this conversation.
- What life-prolonging care do you want taken on your behalf?
- What are the limits for your medical care?
- What kind of comfort care do you want should you need it?
There are medical directives that you can put in place. DNR (do not resuscitate) orders often have to be signed by your physician and witnessed so telling a loved one might not be enough for them to prevent treatment they know you do not want.
Honey explains that googling POLST Form + the state you live in can help you find the documents you need.
POLST stands for Physician Orders for Life-sustaining Treatment.
MOLST stands for Medical Orders for Life-sustaining Treatment.
They're the same thing, but in different states they call them by those two different names.
This episode started with the question: What do you need to have ready for your conversation with those that matter most to you? Remember, it’s a process so commit to taking the first step now, so you can have peace of mind later.
Connect with Santiago and Honey
The Conversation book by Dr. Volandes
Reminder: this married co-host team aren’t doctors, attorneys or medical experts. They are tackling this topic themselves and want to share what they learn to help others navigate this emotion-filled and often intimidating process.
