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 a trusted, medical professional brings reassurance and comfort. Your primary care physician (PCP) is a great person to ask questions about your specific
How to Talk to your Doctor about your Advance Directive Read More »
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 Power of Attorney(s), Primary Care Physician, personal attorney (if you have one), and to anyone else who may be involved in your end-of-life
Beyond the Advance Directive: What Next? Read More »
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 their medical end of life wishes. But a recent New York Times article by Carl Zimmer explains how some patients
Do Not Fear The Persistent Vegetative State Read More »
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 “I still need to make one of those.” I start to talk through the process with her in an attempt
I Don’t Have Anyone to Make my Medical Decisions for Me Read More »
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 intensive care within a few weeks of one another. Her dad was admitted after complications of Covid. Her
A Daughter’s Nightmare in Making Decisions for her Critically Ill Parents Read More »
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 silent and his teammates gathered closely in silent horror. An attempt at cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is often like this. It is
Damar Hamlin: The Exception, Not the Rule, in CPR Read More »
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 to choose a meal at a restaurant without a menu. How can you be expected to be familiar enough
Medical Interventions at End-of-Life Read More »
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 it is the time it takes them to walk from your waiting room to your exam room. Or, perhaps
5 things every physician should know about end-of-life decisions Read More »
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, I often commiserate with patients that it can be like caring for a toddler again. However, this dependent
My Brother Accused Me of “Pulling the Plug” too soon on Mom Read More »
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 the type of medical care to provide. If a spouse is not available, adult children are typically the next in line for these
How to Talk to Your Parents about their End-of-Life Wishes Read More »