Name: Let's talk about dying
Uploaded: 2012-03-25T14:00:23Z
Duration: 13 min 2 s
Description: We can't control if we'll die, but we can "occupy death," in the words of Peter Saul, an emergency doctor. He asks us to think about the end of our lives -- and to question the modern model of slow, intubated death in hospital. Two big questions can help you start this tough conversation.

We can't control if we'll die, but we can "occupy death," in the words of Peter Saul, an emergency doctor. He asks us to think about the end of our lives -- and to question the modern model of slow, intubated death in hospital. Two big questions can help you start this tough conversation.

Let's talk about dying

Medical advances have helped people live longer, yet most now die after prolonged frailty and medical intervention, often without having discussed their preferences. In one survey, only one in a hundred nursing home residents had a plan for what to do if their heart stopped. Avoiding conversations about death leads to unnecessary suffering and stress for families. Open dialogue and simple questions can give people more control and dignity in their final days.