Advice on dying

This past week, I had the privilege of speaking to pre-med students, graduate students, and faculty in the medical sciences at the University of Notre Dame. My topic was “How We Die in America: Fear, Faith, and the Moral Limits of Medicine."

Over the last several generations, dying in America has changed dramatically. What was once primarily a spiritual and family-centered event has evolved into a medical technology event.

This lecture focused on dying in America and healthcare's role in shaping that experience.

We do not speak easily about death. It enters the room uninvited and unsettles our confidence. It exposes the depth of what is and is not in our control. It reminds us that we are not self-creating beings, but creatures - finite, dependent, and vulnerable. 

Yet if there is one thing that binds every human life together, it is this: we will die. The deeper question is not whether we will die, but how. We all need to learn how to die. My advice is that learning about dying enhances living.

You can view my presentation by clicking here.