Doctor/Patient Relationship

It’s no surprise that older adults seek out alternative therapeutic options for the aches and pains of aging. A recent study published in The American Journal of Medicine found that 75% of older adults report that they have used complementary therapies for their health, including acupuncture, massage, yoga, psychedelics, and…

Despite the controversy that surrounds its availability and use, Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) appears to be gaining ground in the US in terms of public support, legal availability, and use by those at the end of their lives. A recent poll by the Pew Research Center found that about…

Most of us know it’s not a great time right now to be a patient in need of a physician. Due to physician shortages, physician burnout, patient overload, inadequate or unavailable insurance, and system bureaucracy, it’s virtually impossible to get in to see your usual physician (or start a relationship…

Every year, April 16 marks the occasion for National Healthcare Decisions Day, a recognition of the importance of thinking about your end-of-life care decisions, documenting them on state-approved forms, and sharing your wishes with loved ones and health care providers, to ensure that your wishes are known and respected regarding…

It’s perhaps one of our worst nightmares. A phone call during the night about a loved one needing to go to the local emergency room, due to a fall, a sharp pain, or some other type of serious problem. Or, you yourself suddenly feel dizzy or short of breath or…

Virtually anyone who’s had interaction these days with the health care system finds plenty to complain about. Whether it’s affordability, insurance, access to care, or even the old-fashioned and often missing human interaction of the doctor-patient relationship, nothing feels easy or adequate anymore. It’s enough to throw up your hands…