Being Mortal (2015)

Death is something we will all one day face. So why is it so hard for doctors to talk with their patients about dying? How can the medical profession better help people navigate the final chapters of their lives with confidence, direction, and purpose? Renowned surgeon and New Yorker writer Atul Gawande explored those questions in his bestselling book, Being Mortal. Now, Gawande teams with FRONTLINE to bring his personal journey--and the stories of his patients and their families--to life and challenges us all to reexamine how we think about death and dying. This film also explores the burgeoning art and science of palliative care and the ways in which having a conversation around the question "What are your priorities if your time is limited?" can empower patients to live their lives fully. Being Mortal shines an unprecedented spotlight on how patients, families, and doctors all experience the end stages of life, for the ultimate goal is not a good death but a good life--all the way to the very end.