36 pages • 1-hour read
Being Mortal: Illness, Medicine and what Matters in the End
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Essay Topics
What role does Tolstoy’s novella play in the book? What does the author take from it?
What are the differences between prescriptive, informative and guiding styles of medicine, according to the author?
Which patients are presented as success stories in the book? Why?
Which experiences does the author present as more tragic? Why?
What contributions of Karen Brown Wilson and Bill Thomas does the author seem to most admire?
How have ideas on death and aging changed in light of medical advancements and the proliferation of hospitals?
How have changing family structures impacted the care and housing of the elderly?
What lessons does Gawande take from his father’s experiences? How does it reinforce his professional experiences?
What advantages does the author see in palliative and hospice care?
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