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I hear the word dignity used a lot in the medical setting, but I\u2019m never sure what people mean when they use it.\xa0 You\u2019d imagine that as a seasoned palliative care doc, I\u2019d have a pretty good definition by now of what \u201cmaintaining dignity\u201d or \u201closs of dignity\u201d means, but you\u2019d be sadly wrong.

Well that all changes today as we\u2019ve invited the world's foremost expert in dignity at the end of life, Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov, to join us on the podcast.\xa0 Harvey is probably best known for his work in developing dignity therapy, a psychological intervention designed specifically to address many of the psychological, existential, and spiritual challenges that patients and their families face as death approaches.

We talk with Harvey about how he defines \u201cdignity\u201d and how we can understand what it means to our patients. We also talk about easy and quick ways to address dignity and personhood by using the Patient Dignity Question (PDQ), which asks \u201cwhat do I need to know about you as a person to give you the best care possible.\u201d\xa0 In addition, we talk with Harvey about some other recent publications he has written, including one on \u201cIntensive Caring\u201d and one on the \u201cPlatinum Rule\u201d (do unto others as they would want done unto themselves).

So take a listen and if you are interested in learning more, check out these wonderful links:

• Harvey\u2019s latest book is called, Dignity in Care: The Human Side of Medicine

• Intensive Caring: Reminding Patients They Matter\xa0

• Michael J. Fox gives patients hope there may be a place that illness doesn\u2019t touch

• Depression is a Liar

• Why is Being a Patient Such a Difficult Pill to Swallow

• Better Patient Care Calls for a \u2018Platinum Rule\u2019 to Replace the Golden One. Scientific American\xa0

• Letter to the Editor: Response to Downar et al. Medical Assistance in Dying and Palliative Care: Shared Trajectories\xa0

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