At Death’s Door: End of Life Stories from the Bedside tells the powerful story of Sebastian Sepulveda’s experiences in working with patients at the end of their lives. In some cases, death came quickly, after the patient was first diagnosed with a terminal condition and entered the hospital. In other cases, patients had a long, progressive illness that got increasingly worse over the months or years until they were in their final days. In some cases, patients were able to fight off death for many years. Hard decisions are often made—whether to resuscitate or not, whether to choose hospice or not, who makes the decisions when a patient cannot, and whose decision to follow when several family members are involved in decision making. Written from the perspective of a medical doctor from years of experience, this personal approach to the end of life explores the many options available to patients and their families and reveals how real people have come to those decisions, and how they play out. With insight and sensitivity, Sepulveda offers families an important window into how life can end with compassion, care, control, and dignity. At Death’s Door features over fifty stories drawn from Sepulveda’s experience as a doctor dealing with these patients and families. As states debate the legality of assisted suicide and other end of life rights, real people make real decisions every day regarding end of life. Their stories come to life in these pages, and readers with similar concerns will find relief, comfort, and company as they face these decisions themselves.

"At Death's Door is an attempt to provide scenarios that can occur when a patient is approaching the end of life. Sepulveda, a doctor with 30-plus years of experience, and Scott, a well-known writer, describe a variety of situations that involve decision making for end-of-life care, coping mechanisms that can hinder the decision-making process, and cultural issues that are often misunderstood or ignored. Each situation is an attempt to provide a realistic view for the reader. However, the recalled dialogue would be better replaced with a summary—an interpretation would provide far more insight than the choppiness of the report. Medical terms are defined throughout, which is beneficial for non-medical readers…. Thus, the book will be best suited for laypeople seeking knowledge of the pitfalls that can occur along the end-of-life road…. This book is rich in personal experiences, which afford a level of authenticity to the work—this is difficult to find. It will prove invaluable to many who are seeking information on how to navigate the uncharted waters of end-of-life care. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and general readers." - CHOICE

"[R]eading this book would allow you to reflect on how you try to assist patients and families with end-of-life issues." - International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care

"While this book could easily serve as a classroom text for medical students, families who want to avoid stressful scrambling in a crisis situation at life’s end are well-advised to invest in a copy of At Death’s Door to review and keep at home. Digesting the pages will help families prepare, which will then bring them peace of mind. It may also inspire living better." - The Caregiver’s Voice

"Through several chapters of gripping anecdotal evidence, Sepulveda and Scott show how different diseases affect physical systems and the ways in which they cause loss of life; how a DNR/DNI alters a care plan; and how it might save pain on both sides of the bed. The end is near in each of Sepulveda’s tales; whether the DNR/DNI is in place or not, the outcome is the same. The difference: one offers less pain and more peace, he says. What would you want for yourself? What would you want for your loved one? Valid questions, all, from a book that forces readers to think, hard. Yes, you may be a patient someday, and you’ll be glad you’ve read At Death’s Door, in the end." - Pantagraph