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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
"The magic of the electronic village is transforming health information. The mouse and keyboard have extended the stethoscope to the 500 million people now online." - Dr. Edward Creagan
The power of the medium inspires Dr. Edward Creagan as he searches for ways to share Mayo Clinic's vast resources with the general public.
Dr. Creagan, a Newark, N.J., native, is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice medicine and palliative care. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1973 and in 1999 was president of the staff of Mayo Clinic. Dr. Creagan, a professor of medical oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, was honored in 1995 with the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine Award and in 1992 with the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award, Mayo's highest recognition. He has been recognized with the American Cancer Society Professorship of Clinical Oncology.
He describes his areas of special interest as "wellness as a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-financial model" and fitness, mind-body connection, aging and burnout.
Dr. Creagan has been an associate medical editor with Mayo Clinic's Web sites and has edited publications and CD-ROMs and reviewed articles.
"We the team of (the Web site) provide reliable, easy-to-understand health and wellness information so that each of us can have productive, meaningful lives," he says.
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Stress blog
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Sept. 12, 2009
Blog: How faith affects end-of-life decisions
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
The intersection of faith, belief systems and health is complex and sometimes bewildering. Nevertheless, it's an important topic and one that deserves further examination.
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The "Journal of the American Medical Association" published an excellent study earlier this year that found an association between religious faith and preferences for aggressive end-of-life care. In other words, individuals with positive religious coping seem more likely to request mechanical ventilation and other types of life-prolonging care, compared with individuals who do not have strong religious faith.
I must admit I was surprised by these findings. In my experience, individuals with deeply rooted faith are often willing to forego some of these measures. This study was an excellent reminder that we can't make assumptions about people's beliefs and desires regarding the end of life.
As I reflected on this, I thought back to one particular patient I cared for. He had advanced intestinal cancer. When asked to indicate his religious preference, he wrote "none at all" on his form. At our initial visit, we discussed the trajectory of his illness. He understood and accepted that cure wasn't likely and expressed the desire to be kept comfortable for the time remaining to him. He shared with me that he wished he had spiritual beliefs to provide comfort and consolation. He said he envied individuals who believed, but added "I just don't." His final days in the hospital were comfortable, but he didn't seem to me to be at peace in the same way as I've seen in individuals who have faith or spiritual beliefs.
The lesson here is a simple one: We need to respect others' beliefs and choices, and learn from one another as we face the decisions that arise at the end of life.
What would you like to add to the discussion?
24 comments posted
- Phelps AC, et al. Religious coping and use of intensive life-prolonging care near death in patients with advanced cancer. JAMA. 2009;301:1140.
24 comments posted