Old people used to die at home, surrounded by their loved ones. Now they are ending up in intensive care, connected to machines and surrounded by strangers. Intensive Care specialist Dr Charlie Corke is committed to give his elderly patients every chance to get better, but he knows that sometimes the treatment is only lengthening the dying process, causing discomfort and distress. In The End takes us on a journey of a doctor who is trying to balance his own enthusiasm for life-prolonging technologies with an acceptance that, after a long and healthy life, it’s OK to go.
At his own hospital Charlie conducted a ground-breaking study that discovered that, overwhelmingly, families opt for medical intervention even though they believe that the treatment is inappropriate, even when they are aware the treatment is contrary to their parents’ wishes Understanding that doctors – particularly junior doctors – regularly offer their patients technological intervention which may be futile, Charlie developed the training program “When Enough is Enough”, which aims to improve doctors’ end-of-life communication.
In The End is a beautiful and profound film about medical technology, end of life decision-making, death and dying, and the importance of advanced care planning. It follows the journey of patients, their families and their doctor dealing with a modern-day dilemma of our own making.
Developed with the assistance of SCREEN AUSTRALIA.
Supported by the State Government of Victoria.
26 minutes.