Welcome back to Doctor Friends, a podcast in which a group of friends, who happen to be doctors, explore issues within the American healthcare system.

This week Tomás, Christian and Grace welcome the physician executive Kai, and geriatrics, palliative care and addiction medicine specialist Lauren to discuss their experiences and challenges in dealing with death and grief in medical practice. Kai and Lauren delve into the emotional impact of patient deaths, differing perspectives between emergency and hospice settings, and the importance of authentic communication with patients and their families. 

They reflect on the challenges physicians face, specifically the emotional and ethical dilemmas concerning death, strategies for processing grief and the systemic issues affecting patient care. The conversation also delves into the cultural expectations surrounding 'a good death' and the importance of humanising medicine. Their personal anecdotes and professional insights offer a candid look at the complexities of providing compassionate care in high-stress environments.

Doctor Friends should not be used in place of professional medical advice. The opinions of the participants are their own and do not represent the institutions that they work for. 

Presented by Tomás, Christian, Grace, Kai and Lauren. Produced by Ilia Rogatchevski.

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