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Last Rights: Respecting Diversity at the End of Life (encore edition)

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After her interview for this program, Regina Dyer died of breast cancer.  Source: Claire Schoen

After her interview for this program, Regina Dyer died of breast cancer. Source: Claire Schoen

“We act as if there is one definition of good end of life care. And I would argue there is no one definition. In the end, it’s going to be many definitions.”

In the American health care system, “good end-of-life care” often supports the white middle-class, but people of diverse religions, languages and races often have very different needs and expectations. On this edition, producer Claire Schoen looks at how miscommunication, stereotyping and racism influence health care for people of color as they approach death.

Featuring:

Dr. Lavera Crawley, faculty member, Stanford University, The Center for Biomedical Ethics; Norma del Rio, social worker and bereavement coordinator, San Francisco Health at Home; Anne Hughes, advanced practice nurse for palliative care, Laguna Honda Hospital; Tamara Liang, Self Help Homecare; Evelyn Jordan, president, Florida Coalition on Hispanic Aging; Carmalita Tursi, director, AARP’s National Diversity Program; Mrs. Sang, Chinese woman who died of pancreatic cancer; Theresa Kwong, social worker, Self Help; Chui Lee, nurse, Self Help; Teresa Bowannie, Zuni Home Health Care Agency; Dr. Bruce Finke, consultant, Zuni Home Health Care Agency; Reverend Frank Jackson, Faith Presbyterian Church; Regina Dyer, African-American woman who died of breast cancer; Dr. Richard Payne, director, Duke University Institute for Care at the End of Life.

Senior Producer/Host: Tena Rubio
Contributing Freelance Producer: Claire Schoen
Freelance Associate Producer: Emily Polk
Intern: Alexis McCrimmon

For more information:

ACCESS Workshop on Culturally Competent End of Life Care – San Francisco, CA

VISIONS Inc. – Roxbury, MA

Self Help for the Elderly Home Care & Hospice – San Francisco, CA

Zuni Home Health Care Agency – Zuni, NM

North General Community Hospital – New York, NY

Heart-to-Heart


Review of this program on PRX (Public Radio Exchange):

Posted: 12-20-2006
Reviewer: John Hingsbergen, Program Director, WMUB

This is an artfully-produced presentation of a complex and difficult issue. The well-written narration, engaging interview clips and music work together to provide a show that goes beyond the norm in production values that reach out and grab the listener’s attention.

Despite the slick production values, the interview subjects are treated with dignity and respect, something they are requesting from the systems that provide care for them.

From listening to this piece, I get the feeling that the producers really care about the subject matter. Listeners cannot help but be affected by this compelling presentation.

One of the things I liked most was the interweaving of the very appropriate music. Cleverly and artfully done!

Rating: 5/5
Adjectives: Engaging, Informational, Sound Rich

Author: FoC Media

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