Better End-of-Life Care: Using Video and Story to Aid Decisions

Why do so many Americans die in ways they say they don't want, suffering and tethered to machines? When Harvard physician Dr. Angelo Volandes had trouble explaining to his dying patient the possible consequences of her treatment options, he walked her down to the ICU. She immediately understood where her decision might lead, and it changed her outlook. Since then, Dr. Volandes has created dozens of powerful videos to support advance care planning and facilitate difficult conversations about end-of-life care. His ground-breaking work has attracted support from the NIH and private foundations, and his efforts have helped thousands of clinicians, patients and families have "the conversation."

Speaker: Dr. Angelo Volandes, M.D., Faculty Member, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School