Semantics Matter At The End Of Life

I know many of you that follow the blog and work with me will say I am preaching to the choir, but the intricacies of language are so important around healthcare.

And, how do you know what works…TEST, TEST, and RETEST. Do you think credit card companies have stopped trying new strategies? Of course not.

So, what’s the latest example…

“Do Not Resuscitate” vs. “Natural Death”

USA Today has an article today about these two phrases. It has real life examples from several hospitals that have changed their language when talking to families. It also talks about a study last year that was published in the Journal of Medical Ethics that showed nurses, student nurses, and people with no health care backgrounds reporting a greater likelihood to forgo resuscitation if “allow natural death” was the phrase used.

“Our greatest responsibility is to listen to the person and find the language that is best understood by them.” Samira Beckwith, CEO, Hope Hospice in Fort Myers, FL.