Humanism has long been concerned about freedom and self-management for all of us when death draws near. Doctors, hospitals and relatives must be aware of our desires. Let’s learn to take charge.

The "End of Life" video, funded by former HAM member Lisa Kuhmerker when she became aware that she had a fatal brain tumor, and subsequently supported by her Gifts of Time Foundation was produced by the Tufts Healthcare Institute. It features 3 separate vignettes illustrating various aspects of interplay between physicians and patients/families in difficult scenarios. Each vignette is followed by a group discussion moderated by John Paris, Professor of Bioethics at Boston College. The dicussion group consists of physicians of various specialties, patients/families in precarious situations, social workers and clerics. The product design envisions an ensuing group discussion among the viewers.

This video has been shown to physicians and lay people around the world (including the Asia-Pacific Conference on Chronic Lung Diseases and Sloan-Kettering Institute and has proved a very provocative and useful tool for helping professionals and laypeople to gain insight and empathy for these types of difficult social, political, religious and ethical situations. 

The group discussion will be moderated by Dr. Joe Gerstein, who helped in the production of the video and has presented it and led discussions in many other venues.