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What do Terri Schiavo and most Americ PROVIDENCE, R.I., March 22 /PRNewswire/ -- "Advance Medical Directives: Something to think about ... " is a new and timely educational documentary, produced by Joshua Kreiss, M.D., M.Phil, physician and filmmaker. The 14- minute film demonstrates the importance of clarifying end-of-life wishes before a medical event.
Endorsed by the Rhode Island Attorney General, Department of Elderly Affairs, and Center for Biomedical Ethics at Brown University, the film was shown by AG Patrick Lynch at the National Association of Attorney General (NAAG) meeting last week. Lynch said, "It's a truly useful health care video...an important step to educating the public about the importance of advance care planning." A 32-year-old graduate of Haverford College, Oxford University's Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology and graduate of Brown Medical School, Dr. Kreiss said, "Do you think Terri Schiavo at 26 expected to suffer from heart failure and spend fifteen years in a persistent vegetative state? I've seen many cases that began with an unexpected visit to the emergency room and evolved into a prolonged stay in the intensive care unit. We should learn from the very difficult circumstances surrounding the decision to prolong or end Terri Schiavo's life." During his medical training, Dr. Kreiss was alarmed by how few patients had made their end-of-life care wishes known in writing to their physicians and families. Kreiss found that even patients with terminal illnesses often overlooked the importance of documenting these wishes. Compelled by his firsthand experiences, Kreiss produced this film to alert people of all ages to the need for early consideration and decision making in writing. He said, "It is our right to determine the end of life care we want. Some may want all measures used to prolong life, while others may not." Acknowledging this widespread problem Congress enacted the Patient Self Determination Act in 1991. It requires patients in all federally funded institutions be informed about their right to participate in health care decisions, including their right to have an Advance Medical Directive. "This is not a topic that is adequately covered in many medical school curricula, but it is a right that every American has," said Kreiss. "Advance Medical Directives: Something to think about ... " provides concrete information about how to ensure that a person's end-of-life wishes are known. Those wishes, if documented properly, should direct the end-of- life care one receives. The film features real patients in real life circumstances as well as expert opinions from physicians and nurses. This film, 'Apple a Day Films' most recent release, can be viewed, along with endorsements, and purchased on line at http://www.appleadayfilms.com/.
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