*new* 18Feb15 Snow day alt assignment
Please watch the Being Mortal video and respond to the prompts below by Sun22Feb
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/being-mortal/
* What was the most optimistic part/message of the video?
* What do you learn about human nature by watching people, patients and doctors, struggle with decisions about death & dying?
Before class on 25 Feb
Respond to at least 2 of your classmates' posts; develop the conversation by addressing one or more of the following:
* What has surprised you about the content of the video or your classmates' response(s)?
* What is the role of medicine? How should it address aging and dying? Gawande says they are unfixable. Does that mean there is nothing to do about them?
This is the name of a new book, which you are invited to read (perhaps in lieu of one of your final exam essays). It is also the name of a new Frontline episode, airing 10 February. Here's a trailer for the video: http://video.pbs.org/video/2365349267/
I will probably assign the video for class: stay tuned for details.
Please let me know (respond to this prompt) if you would like to read the book and perhaps write about it in lieu of some other assignment.
I would be interested in reading this book! The trailer to the video caught my attention. I think, as a nursing major, it would be very beneficial to read about this firsthand experience because I do not think we necessarily know how to empathized with someone going through these situations without going through it ourselves. Different forms of insight to this process is beneficial.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Taylor. I would interested in reading the book. Other view points regarding the end of life processes for patients is always welcome.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely be interested in reading this book. The trailer was extremely intriguing and I liked listening to the doctor's viewpoint about the difficulty and inevitability of death and aging. I also agree with Taylor in that, as a nursing major, this book could potentially be very beneficial.
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ReplyDeleteThe video was intriguing and I was be interested to read this book. In nursing, death is an inevitable experience and it is important to know how to act and react when dealing with it.
ReplyDeleteAt first when I saw this post I could not even think about reading another book for school right now. However, I watched the video and it really caught my attention. I think it would be extremely beneficial to read especially because I am a nursing major. It is going to be important for me to understand the topic a little bit more.
ReplyDeleteI would be interested in reading this book, as well! I also look forward to watching the frontline video. This would be very beneficial for me as a nursing student.
ReplyDeleteThe video seems very interesting, as does the story, but I tend to not enjoy reading nonfiction books. However, I wouldn't absolutely hate reading the book for class. Like I said, it does seem interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe video seems very interesting, as does the story, but I tend to not enjoy reading nonfiction books. However, I wouldn't absolutely hate reading the book for class. Like I said, it does seem interesting.
ReplyDeleteAs a communication major, this book would not relate to my career ideas. However, I do think it would be interesting to read some pieces of the book and different experiences he has had when talking to families.
ReplyDeleteI would not want to read the book for class, just because we do have a lot of material that we already have to cover throughout course. But I did enjoy the video.
ReplyDeleteI missed the airing of "Frontline" last night, I wasn't home in time to watch it. But, I'm watching it online now.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Leeann, considering we are in the same major. But, definitely: reading some excerpts would be a great idea, maybe with some follow-up discussion?? Compare the excepts to Frontline?? Frankly, I think that would feel less overwhelming, as opposed to an entire, additional book.
The story presented was powerful and as a nurse it brought tears to my eyes. It was a true representation of how death is real and we should approach it delicately and boldly. Dr. Atul Gawande gave a true testimony of how death became a personal one when his father was dying. His journey showed how he grew professionally by interviewing other oncology physicians and applying their approaches and concepts to his practice. His research is profound and if only other medical professionals could do that as well. School does teach the basics but the real test if putting it in place with real individuals who trust their lives to you. This has also given me new insight on how to expand my care and thought process for the dying. Even with extensive experience not one death or individual are alike and evidence based research is the best way to holistically take care of the patients who are faced with so many challenges and questions near the end of their life. Great story I enjoyed it very much.
ReplyDeleteThe most optimistic part of this video was that all of the patients that were going through treatment were not afraid of death itself, however suffering while on the path to death. This was also the most surprising part of the video. I would have thought that more of the patients views would be that death is scary and they aren't finished living. That was the case for the lady that wanted to take her grandkids to Disney for Christmas, but towards the very end she just wanted to be comfortable in the hospital until it was her time.
ReplyDelete* What do you learn about human nature by watching people, patients and doctors, struggle with decisions about death & dying? Something that surprised me about the doctors is how emotional they got when delivering the bad news to each individual. I think we all have the image of doctors just healing us like robots. It's interesting to see a different view of them. You can tell that death starts messing with the family a little more than the actual patient. When I was watching the video I could tell the patients knew what was coming and were somewhat prepared for what was to come next. The family members were all hoping for miracles like anyone would do if their love one was diagnosed with a life threatening disease. I think it was important for me to watch this video especially because I will be going into healthcare as a nurse.
The thing that surprised me the most about this video is that no one was really afraid of dying, and that's what kept this video from being too sad to watch. The people I have know that were sick with cancer or another terminal illness have all been in denial for the most part. As this helped them from wallowing in self pity, they would not talk about what they wanted when their time had come which then followed by them becoming too sick to discuss it. Unfortunately, a lot of death comes with pain and suffering. In this video, it was interesting to see the differences and what each person wanted as their lives were ending. It truly spoke as to what was important to them.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the question regarding human nature and doctors, I agree with Stefanie. There has only been one doctor that I have really known who has to deal with these situations. When I got to know him, I was like "wow, he actually cares about these people and he isn't an arrogant jerk". It shocked me with how close he was to his patients and that he would do anything and everything he had to do in order for them to get better and fight the obstacle in front of them. Also, the families of these patients in the video seemed to be more in denial than the patient. The patient, who is undergoing so much treatment and medications and tests, knows that something is going to happen and statistically it isn't good. They seemed mentally prepared for something bad to happen, but like the doctor in the video said, there is only hope to hold on to. This is what the families seemed to be holding onto, any slight glimpse of hope that they could see. This video was very beneficial to watch, especially as a nursing major and getting to see the other side of the spectrum regarding these situations.