Dignity in Care

This is a book of profound humanity, wisdom, and insight. Chochinov calls clinicians to become aware not only of the patienthood of the people we serve, but also of the intrinsic dignity of their personhood * dignity that can be so easily lost in the busy-ness of healthcare. Using insights from patients' experiences and quoting the wisdom of esteemed colleagues across clinical disciplines, alongside reflections from his decades in research into the nuances of dignity, Chochinov's book is a masterclass in the art of clinical caring as a service to humanity. It should be required reading at the outset of training, and then again at regular intervals throughout clinicians' careers.Dr Kathryn Mannix, retired consultant in palliative medicine and best-selling author of With the End in Mind and Listen: how to find the words for Tender Conversations * His latest book [is] a wonderful example of Dr. Harvey Chochinov's clear writing... Drawing on the ABCD's of Dignity-conserving Care (attitude, behavior, compassion, and dialogue), he moves into the Model of Optimal Therapeutic Communication, which was derived from focus groups with experienced psychosocial clinicians... The clinical examples are excellent, and he provides clear guidance, even when situations are not working out the way the clinician would hope... This book provides great wisdom for the experienced clinician, but if all health care undergraduate students could be guided to integrate the concepts in this wonderful book, into their care of themselves and their patients, health care could be radically transformed. * Mary L.S. Vachon, RN, RP, PhD, Psychotherapist in Private Practice; Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto * The book provides students and clinicians with a master class on how to preserve patient dignity in the face of the tough tasks of health care professionals, including helping patients understand their treatment options and how to sensitively break the news, if need be, that their prognosis is poor. This book will be of interest primarily to students, trainees, and practitioners in the health professions. Its rich stories drawn from the author's experience are often moving and well told. It should be a required addition to hospital and medical libraries, and for schools with health professions programs. * Choice * This book serves as a strong reminder that genuine healthcare requires not only scientific knowledge but also a profound understanding of * and empathy forthe human experience; in particular the recognition, affirmation, and support of human dignity and vulnerability. Therefore, its reading would be advantageous for any healthcare professional, regardless of geographical location, specialty, or background.Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics * This wonderful book is the result of the lifelong clinical and academic journey of one of the giants in psychooncology and palliative care. The book is packed with practical and inspiring stories and recommendations. Everyone involved in healthcare must read this book to better help patients and families and to infuse more meaning and fulfillment into their own practice. * Eduardo Bruera, MDFT McGraw Chair in the Treatment of Cancer, Chair, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, & Integrative Medicine, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center * Dr. Chochinov has gathered his decades of clinical experience and wisdom and distilled it into this gift to the field of healthcare, Dignity in Care: The Human Side of Medicine. The book is rich in stories of patients and their families, and in the deep narratives of the clinicians who care for them. He has written eloquently about the pillars of patient-centered care, including the patient experience of illness, communication, and dignity-affirming care. The book speaks to all disciplines and is a tribute to Dr. Chochinov's very distinguished career and to his enduring contribution to advance our understanding of the concept of dignity and why it is so critical in these challenging times. It is vital reading for novices to experts. * Betty Ferrell, RN, PhD, FAAN, FPCN, CHPN, Professor, City of Hope Medical Center, PI, End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) * Dr. Chochinov has spent a long and highly distinguished career caring about people while he has been providing care to patients * most of whom have cancer. In Dignity in Care: The Human Side of Medicine, Dr. Chochinov helps us understand why and how dignified caring for persons has to be a part of effective healthcare. In story after story, he shows us the consequences of not providing this care and what healing can happen when true caring does happen. This is a book that both inspires and gives us practical tools to provide dignity in care. It is a must-read for every healthcare provider.The Rev. George Handzo, APBCC, CSSBB Director, Health Services Research & Quality HealthCare Chaplaincy Network * Bolstered by decades of research and richly illustrated with vignettes of people's lived experiences, Dignity in Care: The Human Side of Medicine illuminates the tenets of authentic human caring. Dr. Chochinov reminds us that, even in the midst of suffering, feeling out of control and utterly vulnerable, the inherent dignity of each patient is there * if we take the time and hone the skill to recognize it. This book is such an important contribution to the field of medicine.Ira Byock, MD, Active Emeritus Professor, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, author of Dying Well and the Best Care Possible * Dr. Chochinov is a global leader in palliative care and a tireless advocate for honoring the dignity of all patients entrusted to our care. Patients with chronic and serious illness can become trapped in their physical illness story within healthcare systems which afford no room for the inner story of the patient to be heard * the story of meaning, purpose, strength, and deep worththe essence of being more than one's illness. Dignity in Care: The Human Side of Medicine, provides the tools and resources for all clinicians and caregivers to elicit and be present to the powerful stories of patients, which often go unheard, and in so doing ensure that the dignity of all patients is honored throughout their care. This book is an important gift to everyone training or working in healthcare.Christina Puchalski, MD, MS, FACP, FAAHPM, Professor of Medicine and Health Sciences, Exec Director, George Washington University Institute for Spirituality and Health, George Washington University * In Dignity in Care: The Human Side of Medicine, Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov offers insight into a critical piece of healthcare: how to recognize, respect, and affirm the humanity of patients and their families. Drawing on decades of personal experience in psychosocial oncology, Dr. Chochinov elucidates the complexity of the physician-patient relationship. He encourages healthcare providers to adopt a holistic approach to understand how patients and families experience profound changes in their health. A sensitive and empathic exploration of an overlooked topic, Dignity in Care presents a particularly important perspective as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. * L. Trevor Young, MD, PhD, FRCPC, FCAHS, Dean and Vice Provost, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto * [This book] is an essential therapeutic treasure map for any healthcare professional committed to preserving and expanding what it means to be a person in the context of serious illness. [It]... is a serious look at the heart and soul of what it means to be human and specific ways to deeply connect with people in distress through emotional connection, dignity, trust, and agency. Boldly, Dr. Chochinov also unveils the barriers and opportunities in healthcare education and hospitals to humanize the illness experience. Dignity in Care is first and foremost about clinical care. Dr. Chochinov deftly distills and shares the best compilation of how to provide dignity in care to date. The added bonus is the robust psychological, social, and spiritual growth implications for all of us. * Matthew Loscalzo, LCSW, APOS Fellow, Executive Director, People & Enterprise Transformation, Emeritus Professor Supportive Care Medicine, Professor Population Sciences, City of Hope- National Medical Center * ...Dignity in Care [contains] clinical anecdotes, personal reflections, research data, and memorable ABCD core competencies [that] provide profound and practical insights into the concepts of personhood and patienthood... It offers an evidenced-based therapeutic communication framework to address the range of aspects of dignity-related stress. There is a brilliance and simplicity to creating an environment for delivering dignity in care, and this text uniquely advances a way forward for healthcare professionals to intentionally integrate this approach into their patient encounters and expand their therapeutic armamentarium. This book will have a profound influence on how we strive to achieve dignity in care for all. * Kathleen M. Foley, MD, Member Emeritus, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Professor Emeritus, Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical School *