Show notes-

Mourning Dove Medical Presents Dr. G at the Heart of Healthcare

Guest-Mitsuo Tomita, MD

- Father was from Japan and his mother from Hawaii

- Born and grew up in Los Angeles

- Attended Dorsey High School

- UCLA First Gen, graduated cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, with highest honors, majoring in Zoology

- UCSF School of Medicine, Fresno

- Board certified Family Medicine

- Joined Kaiser Permanente, San Diego in 1975

- Appointed Assistant Clinical Professor at the UCSD School of Medicine

- Retired in 2008 after 33 years of full-time practice, which he very much enjoyed

- Served on the boards of Planned Parenthood in San Diego, Arthritis Foundation, Lupus Society

- Post-retirement work in FQHCs federally-qualified community health centers in the San Joaquin Valley, Washington State

- Co-chairs the San Diego County Medical Society's Bioethics Commission and the Retired Physicians section of the Medical Society

- Serves on the board of the San Diego Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League

- Volunteers with Compassion & Choices

Mission-Educate & Empower in three parts, helping listeners ‘SEE’ what’s needed to navigate the healthcare system.

1. Story (theme) Dr. G heard Dr. Tomita’s insightful talk about EtOH & Dementia at the 12th Annual Brain Health Forum SD Dementia Consortium hosted by Oasis Senior Advisors and The Elizabeth Hospice

2. Educate -Teaching points

- Article: Clinical Guidelines for Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED) by Hope Wechkin, MD https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37352942/

- VSED or terminal fasting leads to death by dehydration in 1-3 weeks. It is an option of addressing quality of life for an adult, with decision-making capacity, who does not qualify for Medical Aid in Dying MAiD, and have severe pain & suffering from a non-psych serious health condition.

- ADVANCE CARE PLANNING: Consider if Hand Feeding is important for you at the end-of life. While creating your Advance Directive consider the QUESTION “If I can NOT feed myself, DO I WANT TO BE HAND FED❓” Some conditions, such as end stage dementia, people forget how to feed self.

- Article, COMFORT FEEDING https://www.cuanschutz.edu/graduate-programs/palliative-care/palliative-care-blog/blog/palliative-care-blog/the-dilemma-comfort-feeding-presents

- Fast Fact Number 470 “Counseling Adult Patients and Caregivers on Nutrition During the Dying Process”https://www.mypcnow.org/fast-fact/counseling-adult-patients-and-caregivers-on-nutrition-during-the-dying-process/

3. Empower -A valuable a resource to define your own quality of life https://compassionandchoices.org/our-issues/vsed/

Website info https://mourningdovemedical.com

Video podcast 🔗 https://youtu.be/vwiZb7JQf8A?si=x6WGJQtdt91fMWEA #hapc #EducateAndEmpower #PeaceOfMind #TheRealDealAboutHospice #Hope #AdvanceDirective #AdvanceCarePlanning #VSED #MAiD #GoalsOfCare