191 Jack Clifford on EECP, Self-Advocacy, and Supporting Loved Ones at End of Life
Host Marie Betcher, a registered nurse and former Hospice nurse, interviews retired US Coast Guard E9 Jack Clifford, author of “EECP: The Most Underutilized Therapy in Medicine,” about his experience declining emergency triple-bypass surgery after being hospitalized in January 2021 with severe coronary artery disease and instead pursuing enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP). Jack describes researching options, advocating for a pause in urgent medical “pipelines,” and traveling to access EECP before financing a home machine and using it nearly daily, reporting improvements he attributes to vascular/endothelial effects. He shares resources (eecplocator.com and his books, offering free copies by email) and discusses end-of-life support: meeting people where they are, respecting decisions to continue or stop treatment, reducing isolation by simply sitting with someone, and focusing on quality time and acceptance. He also recounts his grandmother and uncle with Parkinson’s choosing voluntary stopping of eating and drinking and Dying peacefully.
00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer
00:29 Meet Marie and Jack
02:47 Facing Emergency Bypass
05:18 Researching Alternatives
06:28 What Is EECP
08:10 Daily Treatment Mission
09:10 Listening to Symptoms
09:54 How to Reach Jack
10:51 Navigating Life Threats
14:31 A Peaceful Passing Story
15:56 Voluntary Stopping Eating
17:27 Caregiver Purpose and Presence
19:50 Loneliness and Simple Help
21:29 Final Advice and Wrap Up
23:27 Closing and Subscribe
If you want to help, you can donate to help support Hospice Explained at the Buy me a Coffee link https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hospice
Hospice Explained Affiliates & Contact Information
Buying from these Affilite links will help support this Podcast.
Marie’s Contact [email protected] www.HospiceExplained.com
1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency,
This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.
