Being Mortal

[Guinevere]

Frontline tonight at 10 eastern. Just what it says. An important discussion for everyone and every family. Please consider watching it.

[TPFKA@W]

Drat I missed this post til now. Hopefully I can find it online somewhere.

[Guinevere]

Being rebroadcast Friday night at 10PM, and hopefully available on PBS.com (Frontline). The doctor, Atul Gawande, has also written a book of the same name that is on my reading list.

The show was very very good, and you know how difficult it is for me to deal with end of life care, and the concept of palliative care. Plus, in this case, one of the three featured case studies was about a friend of mine and his family (the former Dean of my law school - who died last summer), so it was especially poignant. He and his wife were so brave and so clear about what they wanted -- it was vintage Jeff and Genie. Seeing them work through the end of his life was ultimately very comforting.

I'm so proud of them, and so thankful that they were willing to share their experience.

[TPFKA@W]

For those who missed it but are interested: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/being-mortal/

It is quite good and on target.

[Sue U]

Atul Gawande is one of my favorite writers at The New Yorker. He does for medicine what Jeffrey Toobin does for law.

[Lord Jim]

I really like Jeffrey Toobin...

As for this show I'm sure it's well done, but it also sounds enormously depressing so I think I'll take a pass...

[TPFKA@W]

I really like Jeffrey Toobin...

As for this show I'm sure it's well done, but it also sounds enormously depressing so I think I'll take a pass...

There is nothing horribly depressing about addressing end of life issues. What is depressing to me is those who avoid discussions about it until you are there and then are blindsided by the intensity of trying to figure out what your loved ones would want.

[Guinevere]

I really like Jeffrey Toobin...

As for this show I'm sure it's well done, but it also sounds enormously depressing so I think I'll take a pass...

It really wasn't. It was actually pretty comforting in a way. And believe me - not knowing what to do is even more stressful and depressing.

[Guinevere]

Atul Gawande is one of my favorite writers at The New Yorker. He does for medicine what Jeffrey Toobin does for law.

Will definitely read more of his work. I really liked him in the show. Very balanced and compassionate and willing to examine his profession in a way that cuts through the doctor = God BS.

[Sue U]

His analysis of healthcare costs a few years ago was brilliantly illuminating.