Hospice Explained: 191 Jack Clifford on EECP, Self-Advocacy, and Supporting Loved Ones at End of Life

191 Jack Clifford on EECP, Self-Advocacy, and Supporting Loved Ones at End of Life

Jun 28, 2026

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