Most of us believe we know our loved ones' wishes. You may know what your father's favorite meal is or what he enjoys doing on a Sunday afternoon. But do you know if he would want a feeding tube if he can't eat?

These kinds of questions inevitably stir up anxiety and other emotions. It is nearly impossible to think about your family being in this kind of situation, but it is necessary to be prepared for it. In this new guide to intensive care and difficult decisions, doctor and intensive care unit director Gnan Thakore, MD, takes you through these questions and helps you start the conversations that can ensure that your loved ones have their wishes honored.

Thakore covers care relating to a variety of chronic and terminal illnesses. He includes information about the following:

Aggressive care
Recovery from critical illness
Advanced care directives and DNR orders
How families deal with ICU care
Long-term acute care hospitals
Palliative care

Thakore uses case studies and narratives about different patients to help you visualize these situations. His insight into both the medical and psychological considerations provides a thorough overview of many of the main challenges of caregiving on a personal and professional level.

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