University of California Atul Gawandes Book Being Mortal Critical Response

This is a critical response to Atul Gawande’s book, Being Mortal. 

Prompts 

1. Aging: Gawande’s book addresses different problems around aging. What are they? What sorts of institutional responses has American society given them? What philosophical issues do these problems raise? Why is aging a significant concept to consider? 

2. The idea of a good death. Gawande’s anecdotes often involve death and dying. But as the book and its overall story develops, how does Gawande present aspects of the ‘good death’? What, for Gawande, does a good death entail (address the who-what-where-when-how)? Your reaction may also illustrate Gawande’s ideas through contrasts to ‘bad’ deaths. Conclude your response with a reaction to these ideas. 

3. Model Practitioner. Gawande’s book addresses the role of medical practitioners in aging and dying. For Gawande, what constitutes a model practitioner? What is needed for that practitioner to succeed? What ethical issues must the practitioner consider? Is this model practitioner appropriate only for aging patients and dying patients? 

4. A topic of your own (but you must describe it to me beforehand).