MADISON — SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital-Madison, in partnership with Home Health United, is hosting a free, community screening of the documentary Being Mortal on Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Sr. Mary Jean Ryan Conference Center.
After the screening, audience members can participate in a guided conversation on how to identify and communicate wishes about end-of-life goals and preferences.
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.
The goal of showing the film at SSM Health St. Mary’s is to encourage families to begin discussing end-of-life care with their loved ones and caregivers, and also to encourage caregivers to open the conversation about end-of-life care with their patients.
Space is limited. To reserve your spot, contact Lori Schlimgen by November 11 at 608-258-6178.