Video - Two Physician-Patient Conversations about End-of-Life Decisions

Here are two five minute video clips from PBS:



At Intermountain Medical Center Dr. Sam Brown, the supervisor at the medical ICU, meets with Paul Keith, who has terminal cancer. The cancer, which has spread to Mr. Keith’s throat, prevents him from speaking, but he communicates with his wife and doctors by writing his wishes. He is extremely articulate and clear about his prognosis as well as his desire for palliative interventions only as he bravely faces his imminent death. This poignant conversation about his medical decision-making process with Dr. Brown is both powerful and deeply moving. 

At UCLA Medical Center Dr. Bruce Ferrell, a devoted geriatrician and palliative care expert, has a monthly appointment with one of his longstanding patients, 92-year-old Mary Feldman. Ms. Feldman is in the very advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease. She is disoriented and can’t speak, walk, or control any of her bodily functions. Her two devoted sons, Ned and Lynn, take loving care of their mother at home, but they need the help of Dr. Ferrell and a home health professional to manage their mother’s ongoing care. PBS films a moving discussion with Dr. Ferrell about how to handle Ms Feldman’s worsening condition and her desire to avoid spending her final days in a hospital hooked up to tubes and machines.