Human Composting: The New Green Burial Movement
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Human Composting: The New Green Burial Movement

End-Of-Life

Human Composting: The New Green Burial Movement

What is human composting, and is it a viable option for end-of-life? As an end-of-life doula, one of my goals is to bring awareness and intimacy back to caring for loved ones at the end of life and after they have taken their last breath. Steering away from the "traditional" way we have been dealing with death can give us the ability to care for our dead and dying in a way that allows us to honor them, work through fears and emotions related to death, promote healthy grieving, and bring closure to loved ones. In September, California's governor Gavin [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-05-20T16:41:52-04:00November 11, 2022|

Understanding the Difference Between Hospice and Palliative Care
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Understanding the Difference Between Hospice and Palliative Care

End-Of-Life

Understanding the Difference Between Hospice and Palliative Care

When speaking with families, I am often asked, “What is the difference between hospice and palliative care?” These two terms are often used interchangeably, but it is important to understand there is a distinction between the two. Both hospice and palliative care are available for an individual who is suffering from a chronic disease, such as but not limited to dementia, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and/or cancer. The goal of both hospice and palliative care is to focus on symptom management and ensuring the patient’s comfort. So, what is the difference between hospice and palliative [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T11:23:11-05:00September 23, 2022|

The End-of-Life Doula: A New Approach to Death Positivity
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The End-of-Life Doula: A New Approach to Death Positivity

End-Of-Life

The End-of-Life Doula: A New Approach to Death Positivity

Francis Bacon once said, “It is as natural to die as to be born.” Does the thought of that make you uncomfortable? If it does, you are not alone. Death is a very uncomfortable subject for many people. The fact that we will die someday is one thing we all have in common, so why are we so uncomfortable thinking and talking about death? As a care coordinator at Rothkoff Law Group, I work with many clients and families around end-of-life issues. I recently completed the End-of-Life Doula course through the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA). One of [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T11:23:44-05:00September 16, 2022|

Death with Dignity: New Jersey’s Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act
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Death with Dignity: New Jersey’s Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act

End-Of-Life, Law Update

Death with Dignity: New Jersey’s Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act

Oregon has ended its residency requirement for the state's physician-assisted suicide law, known as the Death with Dignity Act, as a result of a pending lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of its residency requirement. Previously, you must have been a citizen of Oregon in order to avail yourself of Oregon’s Death with Dignity Law. The lawsuit, filed in October 2022 on behalf of Dr. Nicholas Gideonse, a Portland, Oregon physician, contended that restricting the right to die by state lines violated Oregon's Death with Dignity Act and the U.S. Constitution. Gideonse was working with the nonprofit organization Compassion & Choices, which [...]

Jerold Rothkoff2024-03-08T11:30:44-05:00April 5, 2022|

Pixar’s Coco Reveals the Importance of Remembering Family Members
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Pixar’s Coco Reveals the Importance of Remembering Family Members

Around the Office, End-Of-Life

Pixar’s Coco Reveals the Importance of Remembering Family Members

Over Thanksgiving weekend, my family and I saw the new Pixar movie, Coco. The result of which is now I recall crying watching two animated Pixar films. Up, my all-time favorite Pixar movie, and now Coco. Like so many Pixar films before it, Coco indulges the belief that kids know best, while it’s up to adults to come around. In the case of Coco, a misunderstood child attempts to convince his family of humble shoemakers to allow him to fulfill his lifelong dream of playing the guitar. Only trouble is, the child’s family has forbidden any form of music in their household for the past [...]

Jerold Rothkoff2024-03-08T12:41:54-05:00November 26, 2017|