Pack Your Own Healthcare Parachute: A Physician's Death Through His Daughter's Eyes is a beautiful story of an adored husband and father of three, a revered physician turned patient, caught in the web of today's dysfunctional medical system and requiring advocacy. In the book, Shiella Dowlatshahi, a first-generation American, tells her father's life story, his passion and commitment to patients, and the heartbreaking journey endured by their family during her father's devastating illness.

Pack Your Own Healthcare Parachute also tells a poignant story about a father's role as a physician, his journey as a patient, and how the changing medical landscape impacted his care. Sharing the lessons she learned about terminal illness, family dynamics, patient advocacy, and the interplay of these factors, Shiella strives to prepare other families, facing similar circumstances, avoid some of the pitfalls along the way.

Shiella advises families to be educated consumers of medicine and choose their medical care carefully with the extensive information now available about hospital and provider performance. Hiring an advocate or choosing a concierge provider may also be an excellent option to ensure well-coordinated care.

Be inspired by this family and learn from their journey, giving yourself the means to advocate for yourself and your loved ones in a health crisis.