BEING MORTAL Medicine and What Matters in the End

Robert Petkoff delivers this important essay on how traditional medicine falls short in treating the aged. His changes in pacing and intensity do more than keep the narrative interesting; they convey an emotional tone that moves in perfect sync with the pathos throughout the book. Most doctors and care administrators, Gawande says, want to fix biological problems and usually overlook the boredom, loneliness, and helplessness that make the end-of-life experience so difficult. Citing research on innovative approaches to geriatric care, he shares inspiring stories of caregivers who are breaking free of medical models and bringing life—and better health outcomes—to the way people live their final years. T.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2015 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2014]