Advance directive resources
By Eleanor Tanno, M.D.
Many people want to talk to their doctor about creating an advance directive. This is understandable since the process can seem daunting. For many, discussing their wishes with...
By Eleanor Tanno, M.D.
Once you have completed your Advance Directive, what comes next?
First, make sure you have created copies of your Advance Directive. Copies should be provided to your medical...
You should have bigger fears.
By Eleanor Tanno, M.D.
“Doc, I’d never want to live like that” or “I never want to be a vegetable!”
These are common refrains I hear from patients when discussing...
No Spouse, No Kids, No Problem.
By Eleanor Tanno, M.D.
At the yearly preventative health physical exam for one of my Medicare patients, Ms. Esther, I ask whether she has an advance directive. She answers...
By Eleanor Tanno, M.D.
A patient of mine recently said something that has stuck in my head.
She is a woman in her 60s, and recently, both of her elderly parents were admitted to the hospital into...
By Eleanor Tanno, M.D.
The world watched in real time the cardiac arrest and resuscitation of NFL player Damar Hamlin on the football field. In the moments that followed his collapse, the stadium grew...
By Eleanor Tanno, M.D.
Naming your “medical wishes” for end-of-life planning can be a daunting task. If you are not familiar with the medical field, this is a tall order. I liken this to asking someone...
By Eleanor Tanno, M.D.
In every specialty of medicine, you will see patients who are nearing the end of their lives. You may not consciously think about it, but you notice it in subtle ways. Perhaps...
When complicated sibling dynamics get in the way of caring for an aging parent
By Eleanor Tanno, M.D.
Caring for an aging parent is one of the most stressful times in life. In my primary care practice,...
The 15 minute conversation that can prevent a lifetime of guilt
By Eleanor Tanno, M.D.
When someone is critically ill and in the hospital, physicians usually first consult their family members about...