“The sooner we start talking about death, the better.”
Have your taken Death Ed?
In this lucid Op-Ed piece, Dr. Jessica Nitter makes a compelling case for a new compulsory course for high school students. It is well worth reading.
"Many of us would choose to die in a planned, comfortable way, surrounded by those we love. But you can’t plan for a good death if you don’t know you’re dying. When patients are prepared, they die better.
I believe it is past time for us to educate [our patients] about death, an equally important stage of life, and one for which the consequences of poor preparedness are bad.
I propose that we teach Death Ed in all of our high schools. I see this curriculum as a civic responsibility."
Lagniappe: “Go Wish,” a card game designed to ease families into these difficult conversations in an entertaining way.
and Extremis (2016, Netflix Documentary, 24 minutes)