Jon Stewart interviewed Atul Gawande on this book "Being Mortal". Gawande reports that a group of cancer patients choosing palliative care at end of life lived 25% longer than those choosing more severe medical care. The study was of stage 4 lung cancer patients. The discussion of end-of-life tradeoffs started with the statement that 17% of people die at home and most die in other institutions. There was some mention of his previous book, "Checklist Manifesto" which sounds like a book we need to pick up. The importance of planning medical checklists can be and will be followed is important.
