Seventy percent of Americans say they would prefer to die at home, but nearly 70 percent die in hospitals and institutions. Ninety percent of Americans know they should have conversations about end-of-life care, yet only 30 percent have done so.
"Being Mortal" delves into the hopes of patients and families facing terminal illness. The film investigates the practice of caring for the dying and explores the relationships between patients and their doctors. It follows a surgeon, Dr. Atul Gawande, as he shares stories from the people and families he encounters. When Dr. Gawande's own father gets cancer, his search for answers about how best to care for the dying becomes a personal quest. The film sheds light on how a medical system focused on a cure often leaves out the sensitive conversations that need to happen so a patient's true wishes can be known and honored at the end.
Our guests for the show are Amy Tucci, CEO of Hospice Foundation of America, Pat Sadoski, long time hospice nurse, Cache Valley Senior Consulting, and Amy Andersen, Director of Outreach and Spiritual Counselor at Sunshine Terrace Foundation.
A special screening of "Being Mortal" will be held Wednesday, September 14th at 7:00 PM at the Lundstrom Student Learning Center on the Utah State Campus. For more information, please visit our community calendar here.