Dying Well: Peace and Possibilities at the End of Life

by Byock, Ira

• ISBN13: 9781573226578
• ISBN10: 1573226572
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781101500286
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-03-01
• Publisher: Riverhead Books
• More Book Details

Summary

Nobody should have to die in pain. Nobody should have to die alone. This is Ira Byock's dream, and he is dedicating his life to making it come true. Dying Well brings us to the homes and bedsides of families with whom Dr. Byock has worked, telling stories of love and reconciliation in the face of tragedy, pain, and conflict. It is a companion for families, showing them how to deal with doctors, talk to loved ones-and make the end of life as meaningful and enriching as the beginning. Exceptional praise from M. Scott Peck, The Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, and many others Dr. Byock is a nationally recognized leader in hospice care The hospice community is comprised of over 5,000,000 professionals and volunteers The tremendous success of How We Die (215,000 hc) and Final Gifts (150,000 pb) proves the market's viability

Author Biography

Ira Byock, M.D., is director of Palliative Medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and a professor at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. He is also the author of The Best Care Possible. He lives in Enfield, New Hampshire.

Table of Contents

Dying WellIntroduction

One: Teaching About Living, Teaching About Dying
Seymour Byock

Two: Questioning Assumptions and Dawning Awareness
My Journey

Three: Learning to Die Well
Anne-Marie Wilson

Four: Suffering and Beyond
Douglas Kearney

Five: Finding Dignity amid Disease and Disintegration
Wallace Burke, Julia Rosauer, Hap Visscher

Six: The Hardest Decisions and The Greatest Opportunities
Janelle Haldeman

Seven: Writing a Personal Script for Dying
Steve Morris

Eight: Accepting the Gift of Dependence and the Burden of Care
Jake Edwards

Nine: Growing Within Tragedy
Michael Merseal

Ten: Facing Unbearable Pain, Unspeakable Losses
Terry Matthews

Eleven: Letting Go, Growing On
Maureen Riley

Twelve: Getting There from Here
Social and Cultural Dimensions

Appendix: Writing Your Family's Story
Questions and Answers

Resources
Further Reading
Acknowledgments
Index