Did you know that an overwhelming majority of US adults want to talk to their family physician about their end of life wishes? And that only 15-20% actually do so? This paradox exists for many reasons: discomfort on the part of both patient and physician, culture that accepts a bare minimum of advance care planning, not enough time to have the conversation, lack of training for clinicians and fear on the part of patients they may be bringing the topic up “too early” for it to be meaningful.

The health care system in the US is highly advanced and has the capacity and technology to do a lot TO our patients. We should instead strive for a better system: medicine that provides care FOR our patients.