Atul Gawande: “Being Mortal: Medicine And What Matters In The End” (Diane Rehm Show)

Modern medicine has advanced dramatically in the past century: Average life expectancy has increased from the mid-40s to the mid-70s today. But as medicine has advanced and people are living longer, children are more likely to live far away from aging parents. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are popular destinations, but often focus on safety and routines at the expense of quality of life and human interaction. Harvard physician and author Atul Gawande argues that making mortality a medical experience is failing society. And he says end-of-life treatments often end up shortening lives instead of extending them. A Harvard doctor on a smarter approach to aging and dying.
Interview:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-10-06/atul-gawande-being-mortal-medicine-and-what-matters-end