Zoey’s Reviews > And a Time to Die: How American Hospitals Shape the End of Life > Status Update

I started part 2 of the book today and it talked about several subjects. It began with short story in perspective of a family member of a frequently hospitalized patient. I then learned the differences between hospital deaths now vs. 40 years ago. 40 years ago death was waited for, nurses performed the deathwatch. Now death is decided. We can pick when and where a patient dies.

I just finished part 1 of the book all discussing how death has recently become a problem in American society. With the invention of the mechanical ventilator, geriatrics, and the politics of prolonged death there is a huge stigma around dying in america

I just started chapter one part 2 where it debates on the dilemma on whether hospital deaths are prolonging death or prolonging suffering. Many people who die in hospitals have extensive painful treatment forced upon them, many of times even with a DNR.

I just finished the introduction explaining Dr. Kaufman’s experience working with families and how they were all willing to let her study with them

Currently working through the introduction where it talks about the difficult and contradictory ways of hospital death