Being Mortal - Libro en Inglés

Being Mortal – Atul Gawande

Modern medicine has achieved extraordinary things, extending lives and curing diseases that were once fatal. But when it comes to aging and the end of life, Atul Gawande argues, it often fails the very people it aims to help.

In Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, Gawande, a surgeon, public health researcher and acclaimed writer, explores how we care for people as they grow old and face serious illness. Drawing on his own experience as a doctor, the stories of patients and families, and the illness and death of his father, he examines the limits of medical intervention and the importance of asking what people truly want from the time they have left.

Gawande looks at the history and reality of nursing homes and assisted living, and at innovative approaches that prioritize autonomy, dignity and quality of life. He explores palliative care and hospice, and the difficult conversations that doctors, patients and families need to have about goals, fears and trade-offs. He shows how asking simple questions, such as what matters most to you, can lead to better care and better lives.

Compassionate, thoughtful and beautifully written, Being Mortal became a bestseller and has influenced how doctors, policymakers and families approach aging and end-of-life care.

It is an essential read for anyone caring for aging parents, facing serious illness, working in health care or simply thinking about what makes a good life to the very end.