Dr atul gawande explains that as a medical student he was never really taught to help patients cope with death only how to save lives he writes that while medicine allows people to live longer and better it turns aging and death into medical processes gawande aims to explore how the experience of aging and dying has changed and how it might be improved. 1 page summary of being mortal overview atul gawandes book being mortal is about death it brings up many concepts like mortality and terminal illness he includes research and tells the stories of his patients other doctors patients and his family members. being mortal by atul gawande summary and analysis uploaded by denise robins atul gawandes book being mortal is about death it brings up many concepts like mortality and terminal illness he includes research and tells the stories of his patients other doctors patients and his family members the results are a guide to help. Last reviewed on june 19 2019 by enotes editorial word count 188 in being mortal the surgeon atul gawande casts americas modern conceptions of healthcare for the elderly in a historical