Foreword by Haider Warraich, M. D. -- Preface by Barbara Coombs Lee -- 1. An invitation -- Box: What is "Medical Aid in Dying"? -- 2. Talking about death won't kill you (but it could improve your life) -- Box: Talking about your priorities early and often -- Box: Finding a "Partner Doctor" -- Box: Advance Directive Components -- Box: The limits of an Advance Directive -- 3. Overtreatment and diminishing returns -- Box: Having a say in your treatment plan -- Box: Tips for combating overtreatment -- 4. Let me die like a doctor -- Box: 5 Things doctors know about end of life -- 5. Hope and heroism -- Box: What we hope for can change as terminal illness progresses -- 6. Hospice: The healing option -- Box: Choosing a good hospice program -- Box: When a loved one enters hospice at home -- 7. The secret of slow medicine -- Box: Vital questions to ask before consenting to a test -- Box: Vital questions to ask before consenting to a treatment -- 8. Escaping dementia -- Box: Creating a video supplement to your advance directive -- 9. Inside a growing advocacy -- Box: How to become a storyteller -- Box: Your first steps to advocacy -- 10. People taking control -- Box: Medical interventions you can decline or stop to die peacefully with medical support -- 11. Space for the sacred -- Box: Elements of a ritual of celebration of a life about to end -- 12. It's harder than you think (but we can do it) -- Appendix: Tools to take charge -- Acknowledgments -- Notes on sources -- About the author -- About compassion & choices

"...Finish Strong is for those of us who want an end-of-life experience to match the life we've enjoyed. We know we should prepare, but are unsure how to think and talk about it, how to live true to our values and priorities, and how to make our wishes stick. The usual advice about advance directives and conversations is important but woefully inadequate. This book describes concrete action in the here and now to help live our best lives to the end. Finish Strong will guide you through: Finding a partner-doctor to honor your values and beliefs with humanity, deference and candor ; Identifying what matters most as vigor wanes and stating your priorities ; Having meaningful conversations with doctors and family about expectations and wishes ; Staying off the "overtreatment conveyor belt" ; Knowing when "slow medicine" is the best option to maintain quality of life ; Navigating home hospice, the ultimate healing experience. Written with candor and clarity by a nurse, physician assistant and attorney who became a leading advocate for end-of-life options, this book can help you Finish Strong." -- back cover