For too long, physicians have been hesitant to speak with patients about a poor prognosis or approaching end of life. Often out of fear of harming their relationships with patients, or dimming whatever hopes remain, doctors have been reluctant to engage in these difficult conversations. Now, in a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, researchers have discovered that such candid conversations in fact improve the relationship with the patient, rather than diminish it. Read more about this important study Here. Still, even with this new research, actually engaging in such conversations is a hurdle many physicians cannot overcome. Yet there is one physician who has made a career of publicly addressing these topics and becoming a role model for all of us: He is Atul Gawande, author of the acclaimed book Being Mortal: Medicine And What Matters In The End. Click Here to listen to Dr. Gawande in his own candid conversation with Krista Tippett, host of the public radio show On Being, as they share an intimate and deeply moving dialogue about life and the lessons to be learned when your days are limited.