How Doctors Tell Patients They're Dying | Being Mortal | FRONTLINE

How Doctors Tell Patients They're Dying | Being Mortal | FRONTLINE
Spread The Viralist



When Clyde Earle checked into a hospital expecting to return home, his doctor, Kathy Selvaggi, had to deliver some bad news. Our film “Being Mortal” explores issues of death, aging, and what is important in the last days of life.

Viewers like you help make this journalism possible. Support your local PBS Station here: http://www.pbs.org/donate

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: http://bit.ly/1BycsJW
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frontline
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/frontlinepbs
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontlinepbs

FRONTLINE is streaming more than 170 films online, for free here: http://to.pbs.org/hxRvQP

Funding for FRONTLINE’s YouTube channel is provided by the Knight Foundation. FRONTLINE is made possible by PBS and CPB. Major support is provided by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Park Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation and Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation.

source

Recommended For You

About the Author: FRONTLINE PBS | Official

40 Comments

  1. It doesn’t matter how you tell someone they’re dying or someone has died it’s all the same. It may sound heartless but I unfortunately have experience of being the bearer of bad news.

  2. im so scared for the day my grandpa will die. i love him so much and hes in his 80s. i know its gonna happen soon but it just breaks my heart that he will never get to see me on my wedding day in the future, but the worst part is he doesnt know english and its so hard to talk with him necause im not fluent 😕 i cant imagine the terrible pain i will go through when he dies and i pray everyday that he can live to his fullest

  3. WARNING FROM ALLAH
    Al-Araf 7:157
    English Footnote – Hilali
    There exists in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injil (Gospel), even after the original text has been distorted, clear prophecies indicating the coming of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) , e.g. Deut. 18/18; 21/21; Psl. 118/22-23; Isa. 42/1-13; Hab. 3/3-4; Matt. 21/42-43; Jn.14/12-17, 26-28; 16/7-14.

    A) "O you who have been given the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Believe in what We have revealed (to Muhammad ) confirming what is (already) with you, before We efface faces [by making them (faces) like the backs of the necks; without nose, mouth and eyes], and turn them hindwards, or curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers. And the Commandment of Allah is always executed." (V.4:47).

    B) See (V.57:28) and its footnote.

    Sura 4 Ayah 47 note:
    This Verse is a severe warning to the Jews and Christians, and an absolute obligation that they must believe in Allah's Messenger Muhammad (ﷺ) and in his Message of Islamic Monotheism and in this Qur'an.

    See the footnote of the (V.3:85), and see (V.3:116), (V.8:39 and its footnote).Sura 3 Ayah 85 note:

    a) It is obligatory to have belief in the Messengership of the Prophet (Muhammad ). Narrated Abu Hurairah [radhi-yAllahu 'anhu]: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "By Him (Allah) in Whose Hand Muhammad's soul is, there is none from amongst the Jews and the Christians (of these present nations) who hears about me and then dies without believing in the Message with which I have been sent (i.e. Islamic Monotheism), but he will be from the dwellers of the (Hell) Fire." [Sahih Muslim, the Book of Faith, Vol.1, Hadith No. 240 (153) (S.S.M. 20)]. [See also (V.3:116)]

  4. Death is just our shadow, kinda weird ppl don't really view death as just the next step and are terrified about it. Its not scary its just closing the cover on a life

  5. He likely could have gone home the last few days with hospice and comfort meds. Our patients are always at peace in their own home. If not only for a day or 2, they're home.

  6. This is so important! I know from watching both of my parents pass away that death is a process, much like birth. I knew both of my parents were dying for a year before they died. I think in my own way, I prepared for it like birth. I stopped what I was doing and took care of them. I tried to enjoy each moment, knowing I would face enormous pain at the end. My parents passed away within 4 days of each other, and all I can say is that it was the most brutal, and the most beautiful time in my life.

  7. This is very sad and I know most doctors and nurses do their best but the truth is the cancer treatments are barbaric and kill off most patients. Trillions of Dollars have been spent on so called cancer cures yet cancer is a true world wide epidemic that appears to be part of population control. Big Pharma are not nor never were looking for cures only painful costly treatments. When cures have been brought forward they have been closed down struck off, imprisoned or even killed. You best research for prevention and true cures while you still can may GOD BLESS ALL WHO DO.

  8. I'll never forget how the doctor told us our baby Carly was dead. Using an ultra sound he said this is your babies heart, it's not beating. She was 3 days overdue.

    And then when dad was dying we all knew it was time.

  9. I work at hosptial with no palliative care team and during the delta wave working as a 2nd month intern I felt vastly untrained for having these convos.

  10. My husband and I already had this conversation with what I want to happen, if I'm very ill or told that I have only so much time left. Even though we had the discussion I'm getting a living will.

  11. My darling of 44yrs was one day in hospital waiting bone marrow diagnosis. I was one side of her our daughters the other. 2 doctors came in and just told us you have acute myeloma confirmation. They then said “you have about twelve weeks but it is the most painless way to go”!!! Many doctors are not good at this. I’m told the best soldiers and surgeons suffer from lack of empathy which makes them good at their job. Fortunately the palliative lady doctor Lisa was superb and my girl proved to be magnificent in her courage and faith which got us all through the next 13wks..I will be with her in the new world promised us.

  12. I didn't get a chance to say anything to my husband he was 47 when he pass away all because of one stroke I miss him more everyday that was 18 years ago I would give anything to hear his voice

  13. Not all doctors have good bedside manners and some none at all. I’d like to punch 2or3 of the pricks that treated my mother. A big fuck you to Grandview hospital. That is hospital you go to if you don’t want to live

  14. If I only had a certain amount of time left before I ended up dead I would use whatever time I had left and I would go out to the Nevada desert with ice cold beer and watch the sun set and look at the stars and the moon one last time before I would expire I'd rather die doing some astronomy.

Comments are closed.