We have the ability to live longer but ultimately death is a reality and advanced medicine is not well set up to prepare us for a peaceful death. Here is specific advice, with resources for the patient and caregivers, about dying with dignity. Butler advises us to not wait for a health crisis to consider our wishes about dying and to have conversations with friends and loved ones in advance.She is the author of Knocking on Heaven’s Door (Scribner 2014) and The Art of Dying Well: A Practical Guide to a Good End of Life (Scribner 2019)

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