I talked to over two hundred patients and family members…
“I talked to over two hundred patients and family members about their experiences with aging, serious illnesses, and the big unfixables. But I also spoke with scores of physicians, and especially geriatricians, palliative care doctors, hospice nurses, and nursing home workers. The biggest thing I found was that when these clinicians were at their best, they were recognizing that people had priorities besides merely living longer. The most important and reliable way that we can understand what people's priorities are, besides just living longer, is to simply ask. And we don't ask.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The core idea is that clinicians often overlook patients' broader life goals, focusing on longevity, but truly understanding priorities requires directly asking patients about what matters to them beyond survival.
In simple terms: Ask patients what matters beyond living longer.
Key Takeaway
Listen to patients' priorities.
Themes
patient care
priorities
communication
aging
palliative care
Mood
empathetic
reflective
thoughtful
Type
clinical
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- clinical consultations
- care planning meetings
- family discussions
- policy development
- medical education
Key Concepts
shared decision making
holistic care
patient autonomy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can healthcare systems embed systematic questioning of patient priorities?
- What barriers prevent clinicians from asking about non‑medical goals?
A Different Perspective
Clinicians may lack time or training to ask and interpret these personal priorities.