You And The Dying

Presented by Nicholas P. Cushner, a SUNY professor who teaches "Death and Dying" at Empire State College in Buffalo, NY, You and the Dying combines a lecture by Cushner with interviews from various professionals (a doctor, a chaplain, and a social worker). Aimed at "caregivers," Cushner's approach is based on E. Mansell Pattison's "phases of dying" in the book The Experience of Dying (1977). Essentially divided into three parts, the tape addresses the issues of speaking to, listening to, and learning from the dying person. Cushner explains how the dying person often goes through denial and anger and fear before eventually reaching acceptance. He also gives a good account of how important it is for the dying person to maintain self-esteem. Although specifically addressed to those "in the profession" (i.e. caregivers), the reality of AIDS has made many a non-professional a caregiver, and therefore this program does have relevance beyond professionals. However, the production qualities are fair, at best, and the tone of the program is understandably academic, given the target audience (Cushner refers to Pattison's stages of dying without saying who Pattison is, assuming that his audience already is familiar with literature on death and dying). On balance, the program has more flaws than merits for a general audience, and is therefore not recommended. (Available from: Video Educational Services, 90 Castle Court, Amherst, NY 14226; (716) 838-3677.)