Surviving And Dying On Your Own Terms

Jan. 26, 2012 - PRLog -- When the moment comes, will you be in control of how you die?  Dr. Dan Morhaim, a well-known practicing physician and Maryland State Legislator, discusses end-of-life care in the highly anticipated book The Better End: Surviving (and Dying) in Today's Modern Medical World released by Johns Hopkins University Press.

Death and the act of dying are uneasy subjects to openly discuss; however it is an inevitable process for us all.  Dr. Dan Morhaim has been on the front-line for over 30 years educating patients and families of the importance of being prepared when the foreseeable happens through Advance Directives: “either you will dictate how you die or someone else will”.  There have been several famous cases in the U.S, where simply having an Advance Directive or Living Will would have lessened the heartache and pain of dying.  The most well known example of this would be the Terri Schiavo Story.

While modern Americans strive to control nearly every aspect of their lives, many of us abandon control of life's final passage. But the realities of twenty-first-century medicine will allow most of us to have a say in how, when, and where we die, so we need to make decisions here, too. Through compelling real-life stories and practical guidance, The Better End helps readers navigate end-of-life care for themselves and their loved ones.

The Better End has earned endorsements from writer/poet/educator Maya Angelou, neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson, John Hopkins Dean Dr. Michael Klag, entertainer Montel Williams, and author Wendell Potter. For more information and to order The Better End: Surviving (and Dying) in Today's Modern Medical World log on to www.thebetterend.com.

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About The Book:

The Better End gives readers an informative and accessible tool kit for navigating medical crises and end-of-life care for themselves and their loved ones. The challenge is to get the best outcome not only from new medical possibilities, but also from the emotional, spiritual, and psychological wisdom of humanity's past and present. How we make these decisions depends upon our individual values and our access to information, and how we act leads to empowerment and dignity. This helps us and our families get through an otherwise very difficult time. The Better End describes a two-step process. First people need to review and consider their choices and second, complete a short form that is free and only takes a few minutes.

About The Author:

Dan Morhaim, M.D. brings a unique and diverse background. As a physician, he's had over 30 years clinical experience treating patients in emergency medicine and internal medicine. As a business person, he founded and built medical group practice that grew to over 90 doctors at 6 hospitals. As a Maryland state legislator, Dan was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1994, and he's been re-elected every four years since. As an academic, Dan is on the faculty at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where he teaches, organizes an annual lecture series, and writes articles. Dan has been honored for his medical, academic, legislative, and civic activities by numerous organizations.  As a public speaker, he speaks to a wide variety of audiences, from community groups to health care professionals, as well as local and national media.