Dallas Morning News Tackles the "D" Word

The Dallas Morning News did a five-part series exploring end-of-life medical care titled "At the Edge of Life: Life and Death in 21st Century Medicine". In Part 1 of the series, "Saying the "D" Word", Lee Hancock explores why death is such a difficult topic for many doctors, and most of us, to discuss. She follows the palliative care team at Baylor University Hospital as they discuss death with patients, families, and doctors. The series continues with Part 2: Fighting the medical machine, Part 3: Healing beyond technology, Part 4: End of life choices, and Part 5: Healing the whole family.

Dallas Morning News reporter, Lee Hancock, shared her experience with her brothers tragic death as her reason to want to explore end-of-life care.

"I persisted: What is the chance of Robert living independently? "About 10 percent," the surgeon replied, "that he will have semi-independence."

The last night I saw Robert, an ICU nurse told me he'd been calling out my name. He begged me to help him get out of bed. He insisted he was trapped in a bad hotel.

The next morning, my journal entry was grim: "His situation raises such tough questions about when to keep going, when to quit with huge medical interventions. What is quality of life?"

Forty-three days later, on July 15, 2005, Robert died alone in a nursing home.

I shared grief with a colleague whose mother had end-stage cancer. We began exploring a project on end-of-life care.

A physician once wrote that medicine comes down to one person guiding another through the darkness.

I have found no easy answers. But I learned what I wish we'd known for Robert – what I want for everyone I love.

Guidance for people at the edge of life can help them see the light – the love – that endures."

Take some time to read the stories, watch the behind-the-scenes videos, and try the interactive tools on the Dallas Morning News web site. Kudos to the Dallas Morning News for a personal and powerful perspective on end-of-life care.