For years, we've heard of the importance of talking about end-of-life wishes well in advance. It can certainly help with mental distress — but may not make much of a difference in our medical care, a new study suggests.
The study found there were reductions in anxiety and depression. How long did that last?
We're actually implementing this study in an ongoing way at several hospitals here in Boston, at hundreds of hospitals across the United States, and also internationally. From the patients' point of view, patients are often kind of ambivalent about getting the information. They know what they want, but they're scared of what they're going to hear. They want to protect their family members. They want to protect themselves. So there's a lot of intense anxiety for both the clinician and the patient.
We think that is definitely the wrong time to start these conversations. So we really try to help them happen with the clinicians who really know them, and to have it when the patients aren't in crisis. If you think about having the conversation, you should probably have the conversation, if you're a clinician.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
These 8 Women Made A Difference In The 2018 Midterms Where It Mattered MostFor Women’s History Month, we spotlighting 8 women leaders from 2018 who used their voice and platforms to ensure others were informed, excited, and ready to exercise their important right to vote—and to have fun while doing it.
Read more »
This Woman Made A Really Important Observation About How Hard It Is To Buy JeansThis Woman's Tweet About Clothing Sizes Started A Conversation About How Messed Up Things Really Are
Read more »
It's a positive sign that the US and China are still talking trade, investor saysPeter Andersen, chief investment officer at Massachusetts-based Andersen Capital, said that 'everyone wants to negotiate for their own good,' so that suggests there will be a positive outcome from the U.S.-China talks.
Read more »
US envoy says 'real strides' made in longest Taliban talksThe longest peace talks between the US and the Taliban to end America's 17-year war in Afghanistan concluded on Tuesday night in Qatar, with both sides saying progress had been made, but no final agreement could be reached.
Read more »
Lighthizer says U.S.-China trade talks 'making headway' on key issues
Read more »
US envoy says progress made in talks with TalibanThe US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation said Tuesday that weeks of negotiations with Taliban negotiators had yielded a draft agreement on two issues related to Afghan peace.
Read more »