3. What does Gawande say Jewel Douglas’ death showed him?
(a) That family is important in dying.
(b) That we are not powerless in the end.
(c) That sometimes doing nothing is better.
(d) That dignity in death takes a lot of work and planning.

4. How does Gawande say he answered when his patient’s family asked if his patient was dying?
(a) He could not answer.
(b) He could not bring himself to tell the truth.
(c) He lied and said no.
(d) He could only explain all the variables.

5. Whose story does Gawande say is “going global” (192)?
(a) Sara Monopoli.
(b) Alice Hobson.
(c) His father’s.
(d) Lou Sanders.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does Gawande say five of the world’s fastest-growing economies are?

2. Which of Gawande’s patients showed him “how understanding the finitude of one’s time could be a gift” (209)?

3. How does Gawande characterize the people who spend the last days of their life in the ICU?

4. What was Thomas’ explanation for the decline in the death rate?

5. What does Royce say is the problem with desires as a guide for life?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the priorities Gawande says people have, at the end of their lives, that go beyond “prolonging their lives” (155)?

2. In the metaphor of death as the enemy, which general’s philosophy does Gawande say patients should want to emulate?

3. How do Gawande’s father’s two doctors approach his condition differently?

4. What does Gawande say was the mistake his father made in his medical care?

5. What definition of courage does Gawande arrive at, from his discussion of Plato’s Laches dialogue?

6. How does Gawande characterize his faith in his people’s religion, and how does he describe his participation in the Hindu ritual for dispersing his father’s remains?

7. What stance does Gawande take on the concept of “assisted suicide” (243)?

8. How did Gawande and his mother differ on the question of how to handle Gawande’s father’s care as death came closer?

9. What are the three stages Gawande describes in medical development countries go through?

10. What triumph of Gawande’s was Gawande’s father able to witness, in his declining health?

(see the answer keys)

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