Dying Well: Peace and Possibilities at the End of Life

From Ira Byock, prominent palliative care physician and expert in end of life decisions, a lesson in Dying Well.

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, medical drama, and conflict. Through the true stories of patients, he shows us that a lot of important emotional work can be accomplished in the final months, weeks, and even days of life. It is a companion for families, showing them how to deal with doctors, how to talk to loved ones—and how to make the end of life as meaningful and enriching as the beginning.

Ira Byock is also the author of The Best Care Possible: A Physician's Quest to Transform Care Through the End of Life.

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

Ira Byock, M.D., has specialized for the past 18 years in caring for the dying and is director of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation national program to improve end-of-life care. Dr. Byock also serves as president of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

Dying Well Introduction

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