About this item
There is an unspoken dark side of American medicine--keeping patients alive at any price. Two thirds of Americans die in healthcare institutions tethered to machines and tubes at bankrupting costs, even though research shows that most prefer to die at home in comfort, surrounded by loved ones. Dr. Angelo E. Volandes believes that a life well lived deserves a good ending. Through the stories of seven patients and seven very different end-of-life experiences, he demonstrates that what people with a serious illness, who are approaching the end of their lives, need most is not new technologies but one simple thing: The Conversation. He argues for a radical re-envisioning of the patient-doctor relationship and offers ways for patients and their families to talk about this difficult issue to ensure that patients will be at the center and in charge of their medical care. It might be the most important conversation you ever have.
About the Author
Angelo Volandes, MD, MPH is a physician and researcher at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital who feels strongly that it is important for patients and their families to be informed and empowered when making medical decisions.
He leads a team of scientists and innovators across the country who create and study short, easy to understand videos, for patients and their families. In 2010, he co-founded Advance Care Planning Decisions, a nonprofit organization, that is devoted to encouraging The Conversation and patient empowerment.
Dr. Volandes lives in the Boston area with his wife and their two children. He enjoys boxing, Greek dancing, and reading philosophy in his spare time.
