One certainty of life is that sooner or later we all must die. How do we prepare for and face death? That's the topic of Before I Die, a series of mini-seminars, featuring a wide range of panelists, including Dr. Sherwin Nuland (author of How We Die and the current The Wisdom of the Body), columnist/author Anna Quindlen, author Willard Gaylin, doctors, a priest, a rabbi, bioethics experts, and hospice administrators. Topics covered include the cost of dying, the delicate problem of doctor-patient communication, pain management, when to withdraw from medical treatment, and whether it is ever ethical to assist in a patient's suicide. The format includes role playing, followed by a spirited discussion, and the examples are realistic and provocative (a young mother dying of breast cancer, a coma patient whose fate must be decided by two daughters with decidedly different views on the prolongation of life). The ultimate message here is that death must be reclaimed as a part of life, and this video--which will further that message--is recommended. However, for general audiences, I do prefer the HBO-produced documentary Letting Go: a Hospice Journey (VL-5/97). (S. Rees)
Before I Die: Medical Care and Personal Choices
(60 min., $24.98, PBS Home Video [800-645-4727]) 9/16/97
Before I Die: Medical Care and Personal Choices
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
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