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AUDIOVISUAL REVIEW |
University of Minnesota
The subject of end-of-life decisions (and related topics) has been a recurring theme in the Audiovisual Reviews column. Here are some examples from the last 15 years:
This topic is taking on increasing importance as baby boomers age and face their mortality and as health care providers address their medical and ethical concerns. Current interest in the topic is reflected in the project Near the End of Life, a multidisciplinary educational initiative jointly sponsored by the Education Development Center, the Hastings Center, the American Medical Association, and the Hospital Research and Educational Trust. At the core of this topic is the idea, expressed succinctly by Amy O. Calvin, one of the reviewers in this column, that "health care providers are charged with helping patients live with dying." Sensitive, honest, and open communication is a central tenet of this charge.
Of the three videos reviewed below, Caring at the End of Life stands out as a masterful example of the principles outlined above. The video's director, Ben Achtenberg, also directed the highly acclaimed The Pitch of Grief (reviewed in Vol. 38, No. 1, 1998). Amy Calvin's review emphasizes the qualities of caring and compassion elicited from health care providers as they acknowledge the individuality of the patients they serve.
The two other videos reviewed in this column do not receive glowing reviews—and I would have expected nothing less from the reviewers who were assigned to them. I preview every video before I assign a reviewer, and I think it is an important service to our readers that videos receive an unflinching and balanced assessment of their merits—and their shortcomings. Tom Tomlinson, who reviews Grave Words, concludes—in no uncertain terms—"The video is of doubtful value, because of limitations both in content and in style." I appreciate his well-reasoned and detailed assessment of these limitations. The third video reviewed below is Self Deliverance: Assisted Suicide in Australia. This audiovisual approaches its subject through the experiences of one person—a feisty, independent-minded individual, and a longtime sufferer from cancer. Michael Kearl provides an informative review, rich in context, about the history of assisted suicide, and he analyzes the arguments pro and con regarding the short-lived Australian law that permitted voluntary euthanasia. His characterization of John Graham, the subject of the documentary, captures many of the ambiguities and ironies of the director's portrayal of his subject.
On a personal note—I am delighted to return as audiovisual editor. I was honoured to serve in that capacity from 1998–2000, and I heartily appreciate James Sykes' able service as audiovisual editor from 2000–2002. At the same time, I realize that my work exists within the context of 25 years of reviews provided by The Gerontologist in this column. All of us who are interested, committed—and even passionate—about the role of audiovisuals in gerontological education, are indebted to the groundbreaking work of the first three editors of this section: Prof. Richard C. Davis (1976–1982), Mary Margaret Kelly (1982–1983), and Andrea W. Nevins (1984–1997). They maintained a high standard of excellence in the quality of reviews and the coverage of gerontological topics. I hope readers will let me know their thoughts on the quality and content of future issues, share their ideas for future themes, inform me of their media productions, and share their thoughts on new developments in film, television, and other media as they relate to gerontology. Readers may contact me via e-mail at the following address: yahnk001{at}umn.edu
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