Being Mortal

Résumé du livre

Atul Gawande is a doctor, author, researcher and professor at the Harvard School of Public Health. He has written two other books, Complications (2007) and The Checklist Manifesto (2011).

Healthcare in the United States allocates a significant portion of its resources to patients in their final year of life, often pursuing treatments that extend suffering rather than improve quality of life. Unrealistic hopes from both patients and doctors can lead to aggressive interventions with severe side effects, overshadowing the importance of dignity and comfort in one’s final days. Studies show that hospice care or staying at home often results in a better quality of life compared to intensive medical treatments. As aging imposes physical and emotional challenges, the desire for autonomy and meaningful connections remains central. Modern healthcare has extended lifespans, but it has also shifted caregiving from families to institutions, often neglecting the emotional and psychological needs of the elderly. Assisted living and innovative care models, such as integrating gardens, animals, and intergenerational activities, demonstrate the potential for improving seniors’ well-being. Open communication about end-of-life preferences is vital, as is redefining the role of doctors to balance empathy with expertise. By confronting mortality and prioritizing quality of life, individuals and society can transform aging and dying into more dignified and purposeful experiences.

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