Last week we discussed the medicalization of death. Maggie sent a follow up youtube video about a pediatric palliative care physician, Dr. Tremonti, who wants to de-medicalize death. Basically, this doctor compassionately and gently prepares a family for the truth: their infant's life can be prolonged by medical means, but given the magnitude of the baby's challenges, he or she will not survive. Her underlying question is, when a child is terminally ill, how can Dr Tremonti and her staff make the end of life a better one? How can she make it more human?
It is a moving and thought provoking piece. I hope you'll find time to view it.