Summary

“A good physician takes care of the disease, a great one takes care of the patient.”

Jessica Zitter, MD, MPH, practices ICU and Palliative Care at the county hospital in Oakland, California. She is the author of Extreme Measures: Finding a Better Path to the End of Life. Her essays and articles have appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, the Huffington Post, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and other publications.  Her work is featured in an Oscar-nominated short documentary, Extremis, now streaming on Netflix. She regularly lectures and speaks on the radio on the topic of dying in America.

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In this episode we discuss how to make the path to the end of life less sufferable. It really boils down to having congruent and available information that allows all who are involved making more satisfying decisions. It is a unique conversation to The Hidden Why but one with a very important message.

Key Take Outs

• Reducing suffering by having information available and congruent.
• Communication- tough conversation.
• NURSE – Naming the emotion. Understanding. Respect. Support. Empathy
• Bringing death into daily conversation.

Quick round questions

Do you have any routines and rituals that you believe contribute to your success?

Friday night dinners with friends.

What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?

More sleep. Stick to what you are good at.

What is the meaning of success?

Having positive relationships and connections.

What is your number one productivity advice?

Focus more on that one things until complete.

What advice would you give someone that needing/wanting to make change?

Find what you are passionate about in life and find ways to align your life accordingly.

Favourite Food

Liquorice

Favourite Leisure Activity

Hiking

Favourite Book

Middlesex: A Novel by by Jeffrey Eugenides

Extreme Measures: Finding a Better Path to the End of Life by Jessica Zitter

Favourite Quote

“A good physician takes care of the disease, a great one takes care of the patient.”

Do we all have a why?

Yes. We all have something to give.

What does living with passion and purpose mean?

Having and living aligned with person principles.

How to find Jessica Zitter

Learn more about her work at jessicazitter.com

Here documentary Extremis can be found on Netflix here. 

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