Psilocybin and the Art of Palliative Care Medicine
A video of one woman's experience in facing her terminal illness (11:27)
Jennifer Blechman, MD is my palliative care physician. Her job is to help cancer patients, like me, manage not only physical symptoms but an array of psycho-social symptoms, including spiritual questioning of oneself. She listens intently and displays a deep sense of empathy that’s hard to maintain in the face of dire outcomes in her patients. She’s learned how to sit in the presence of someone facing death, a balance of science and art, a belief in something greater than the MyChart data that arrives in the patient’s inbox even before a doctor has time to enlighten you on your recent tests.
We live in Oregon where medical psilocybin is legal. Palliative care doctors like Jenny are adding this option for those diagnosed with a terminal illness and those at end-of-life care in hospice. Psilocybin has shown remarkable effects for patients in distress, curbing anxiety about dying, alleviating stress so facing death with dignity is a natural step when a human life ends.
Jenny talked to me about an idea to profile one of her patients, Pam Hardy, in a video. Pam has Stage IV cancer with a terminal prognosis. What resulted was a remote collaboration with Pam, Jenny, and Betty, a therapy guide that is present for the 4-6 hour journey after drinking tea with the appropriate amount of medical grade mushrooms. Through Zoom interviews, images provided by Pam, stock photos and video I found, we made a story together to give others hope for a beneficial treatment to those suffering and encourage other states to consider making it law.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful story and video.