Pediatric

The most tragic is a life cut too short. I co-wrote a book, “and one to grow on” about a child with leukemia and her mother. …….Seven year old Megan Malone is diagnosed with leukemia. Her nurse mother, teacher father, and ten year old brother are drawn along with her into the world of hospitals, doctors, chemotherapy and conflicting opinions. The Malones are not always certain who has their child’s best interests at heart.

And One to Grow on: David R. Pepper MD, Elizabeth Neff Walker ...

Fast Deaths

Sudden - Heart Attacks, Accidents, Trauma all these leave no time to plan, nor say goodbye. Easy by some accounts, tragic by others…

Fast (days to weeks) - Covid 19 changed our dynamic some, though often we put our patients behind plastic and out of reach. Things happen fast and furious leaving little time for discussion or options.

Slower deaths

MAID

How slow is slow? Months? Years? What is an ideal amount of time to say goodbye? Many physicians choose 4-6 months. Some deaths are “too slow”, say Alzheimers Dementia, where a person slowly slips into “not knowing who their family is” over years. It can be agonizing for caregivers and hard to plan for

How slow is too slow?

MAID, or Medical Aide in Dying is a way that terminally ill patients - in certain states, and with less than 6 months to live can “end” their lives with Medical Aide.