07 Apr Film Explores End-of-Life-Care in US

Free Screening of ‘Being Mortal’ 

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.

Join us for a free viewing of the PBS documentary “Being Mortal” on April 16, 7 – 9 pm at the Brattleboro Museum & Arts Center in Brattleboro.  After the screening, audience members can participate in a guided conversation led by Joanna Rueter, Advance Care Planning Coordinator, on how to take concrete steps to identify and communicate wishes about end-of-life goals and preferences.

This event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

“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.  “Being Mortal” underscores the importance of people planning ahead and talking with family members about end-of-life decisions.

“Being Mortal” aired nationally on the PBS program “Frontline.” For more information about the film, visit Being Mortal on PBS Frontline . The film is adapted from Dr. Gawande’s 2014 nationally bestselling book of the same name. More information about the book is at Being Mortal by Atul Gawande .