Morton’s Arbor Health
On June 2, Morton General Hospital will be hosting an end of life presentation featuring a PBS Frontline film called “Being Mortal” along with a post viewing discussion between the public and healthcare professionals. The event is free to the public
The presentation is titled “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End.” The corresponding PBS Frontline film, which explores the hopes of patients and families in the face of terminal illness and their ensuing relationship with medical professionals, is based off of a best-selling book by Dr. Atul Gawande.
Diane Hurley, Social Services RN manager at Morton General Hospital, said that Gawande’s book and the resulting film have created “a national conversation,” on the myriad of options and intricacies of dealing with end of life decisions. Speaking on the message of the presentation, Hurley noted that it is “important to have those conversations ahead of time.”
Candace Chaney, from Assured Hospice, helped to organize the event through a cooperation of her employer, Morton General, Hospice of America and the Area Agency on Aging. According to Chaney, “The goal is to show (the film) and then provide an opportunity and resources to help people figure out what they want for themselves.” Chaney added that remaining empowered as people grow older is the main mission of the film and discussion.
A quote from Gawande that adorns the event flier notes that, “Hope is not a plan.”
Of Gawande, the author and speaker in the film, Hurley noted that, “He’s a surgeon and he essentially was somebody who realized he didn’t handle end of life very well so he started speaking with physicians that did work with that.” Hurley added that Gawande is a skilled author and captivating speaker in the film.
The presentation will be held at Morton General Hospital 9:30-11:30 a.m. on June 2 and again 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Conference Rooms 1 and 2. Plans for additional viewings in the Twin Cities area at a later date are currently in the works.
For more information, contact Diane Hurley at (360) 496-3591.
