Comments for In The End: a documentary about end-of-life decision making

Comment on Ethics – A discussion on the issues by Jessie Edney

Jessie Edney — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:49:21 +0000

I respect the rights of all who have had their say on this very important issue. All I ask is that they respect my rights when I say I don’t want to linger, if terminally I’ll. I want the choice at that time to say, give me palliative care OR please let me end it now with my family around me.
At this point in time I can choose suicide BUT will it be successful? Also my family cannot be with me because they could be charged with assisting suicide. It is my life and it should be my choice.

Comment on ‘In The End’ – Have your say about the film by Richard Lea

Richard Lea — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 08:13:39 +0000

A wonderful documentary about a very complex stage of life. As a consultant anaesthetist, I see a significant number of patients undergoing surgery when it is unlikely to prolong life or even to improve the quality of life.

That “the medical system” allows this to happen is not simply a function of Doctors who can’t help themselves prolonging life at any cost. There are many who, like Charlie Corke, see the futility and indignity in complex medical and surgical treatments towards the end of life.

Unfortunately so many people have not discussed their desires with family and friends and many people have unresolved issues with family. In these situations it is common for one or more of the family or friends to push, sometimes quite aggressively, for ‘everything possible’ to be done, even if the future is prolonged invasive care in ICU and very poor long term prospects for their loved one. They can’t imagine bear their loved one dying, or are still hoping to resolve some lingering unspoken issue.

If you believe in what Charlie Corke is saying , as I do, get out and talk to people about it. Demystify death. Mend old conflicts with your loved ones. Decide how poorly you would be prepared to live. Would it be OK for you if you were incontinent, confined to bed, unable to talk? Discuss it with your loved ones and your Doctor and write it down. Make sure they all know your wishes.

It is too late to leave it until you are very ill, you never know when that is going to happen.

Comment on ‘In The End’ – Have your say about the film by Heather Tobias

Heather Tobias — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:40:53 +0000

I hope that this documentary is shown to medical students in universities. Because younger people have come to expect that medical science can achieve the near impossible they seem to believe they have the right to demand miracles. As a 74 year old whose great grandmother died at, and was buried from, our home in East Malvern, Victoria. I was 10. I have always accepted death as part of life. In recent years I have been very disturbed by the attitude to the status of (especially) elderly patients at the end of their life. When technology,which is supposed to help humans,is used in a manner that dehumanizes the last stages of life there is something very wrong with the way we think. I have been very afraid of the possible intervention in my future unescapable date with death. Surely if we love we cannot demand a life not lived? Listening to Dr Charlie Corke’s sensitive, empathic discussion with staff, students and families I saw a glimmer of hope that I maybe able to die as my great grandmother, my grandmother and my mother before me: in peace.

Comment on ‘In The End’ – Have your say about the film by helen ellerker

helen ellerker — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 01:58:41 +0000

I would like to thank Dr Charlie Corke for the thoughtful, empathic program screened on the ABC, 13 June 11. I was so happy to hear someone from the medical profession actually recognise and articulate some of the complex issues surrounding the loss of dignity and in some cases, psychological suffering that some elderly people, at the end of their lives, are made to endure, even when it is well known, death is inevitable.

In my own 87 year old mother’s case, despite her expression of a wish to be let go, expressed with difficulty, several times, and my attempts on her behalf, her wishes were totally ignored and she, with one of her hands tied, was made to endure the insertion of tubes down her throat into her lungs for 3 weeks. Only one hand was tied because the other had become paralysed as a result of one of 2 ‘open heart’ operations. My mother developed pneumonia as well, following the operations, and would constantly gag with the irritation from the invasive tubes down her throat. It was so uplifting to hear a different view from the platitudes we were constantly hearing, about ‘the need to fight’ and ‘the need to be strong’.
I do hope this program starts to bring about a greater examination of the ethics associated with the complexity of issues surrounding the ‘tunnel-visioned’ use of technology only to cause those who are helpless, at the end of their lives, such loss of dignity and needless suffering. The ongoing trauma experienced by the patient is mirrored by the family members who are watching. Thank you again Charlie.

Comment on ‘In The End’ – Have your say about the film by sue

sue — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:45:07 +0000

As long as Dr Charlie Corke is teaching the youngsters I am content. One of life’s wonderfully accomplished, compassionate examples of the best of the species, same species as me believe it or not.

Comment on ‘In The End’ – Have your say about the film by susan bentley

susan bentley — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:11:56 +0000

Hi I am an ICU nurse and have faced this delemia several times not only in australia but in africa where I was born and raised.Life is precious but so are the wishes of your loved one, my own mother said to my sister when she was dying let me go as all my friends have gone before me there is nothing here for me anymore. So we honoured her dying wish as much as it hurt, but she died with dignity and every single one of her offspring truely believed that she did not suffer in the end. This dvd is a help to medical staff who have a hard time letting go after all the time and effort they have put in to saving someone’s life, it should be on the must see list of every medical course run in this country, thankyou for showing it again.

Comment on ‘In The End’ – Have your say about the film by julie pinkham

julie pinkham — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:46:59 +0000

thankyou for a great documentary; so thought provoking. I think it will make a difference.

Comment on Ethics – A discussion on the issues by ELI

ELI — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 08:48:56 +0000

I usually work in Intensive Care but I am currently working in a Hospice. Although I love the job, I find it amazing that some patients in the Hospice are actually FOR CPR… Am I the only one who thinks this is crazy stuff? I would appreciate any comments… Just trying to understand the culture and what took us here.

Comment on ‘In The End’ – Have your say about the film by Ruth

Ruth — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 09:31:45 +0000

As a residential aged care RN I’ve recommended this powerful and moving documentary to my colleagues. We constantly discuss the ethical dilemmas of prolonging residents’ lives (many of who have multiple chronic illnesses, incontinence and dementia) with cardiac drugs and influenza shots, but this pales in comparison to the aggressive and intrusive treatments shown in this film. Apart from the ongoing trauma to elderly ICU patients and their families, I would be very concerned about the psychological wellbeing of the medical and nursing staff. They must feel conflicted and confused coming into work each day, being so unsure of the ethics of the treatments being used.

Along with the emerging discussion of Advanced Care Planning, hopefully this documentary will stimulate conversations in many families about what elderly people would wish for in their final days.

Thankyou for a wonderful film.

Comment on ‘In The End’ – Have your say about the film by Meg

Meg — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 04:03:29 +0000

As a nurse, I have worked in Palliative care for years and I am also a lecturer at Tafe. I first watched the film on Compass, ABC2, and a student bought in a copy he had purchased to show the class,as they had been learning about a Palliative Approach to Care as part of their Certificate III in Aged Care. As the film depicts the alternative so beautifully, my class was very impressed, it engendered lots of discussion points for them and much to think about.
Tafe has now purchased a copy to show to students across four different programs – Complementary Therapies, Diploma Of Nursing,Health Assistants and Aged Care. It is considered to be an important resource for all of them, and added to the session plans. Thankyou for tackling a difficult topic in such a sensitive manner, and being part of the “catalyst” for change and increased knowledge in these areas.