Being Mortal By Atul Gawande

ISBN: 9781846685828

Author: Atul Gawande

Publisher: Profile Books – Welcome Collection

In Being Mortal, surgeon Atul Gawande explores the limitations of modern medicine in addressing the realities of aging and death, arguing that the healthcare system often prioritizes safety and survival over a patient’s quality of life and autonomy. Through a blend of personal narrative—including his father’s terminal illness—and investigative research, Gawande critiques the clinical “institutionalization” of the elderly and the terminally ill, advocating instead for a compassionate approach that focuses on well-being and what makes life worth living until the very end. The book serves as a call to action for patients, families, and doctors to have difficult but necessary conversations about end-of-life goals to ensure dignity, comfort, and purpose.