There are so many good shows, movies, and documentaries out there; especially on your favorite streaming platform. Recently we came across 2 fantastic (and short) documentaries on Netflix that dive into the end of life and its effects on the patient and their loved ones. Grab some popcorn and tissues and check these 2 out!
If you’ve been following us on social media (you should, if you don’t already) you may have seen one of our favorite books, “A Beginner’s Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death” by BJ Miller, MD and Shoshana Berger. For those who aren’t familiar with Dr. BJ Miller, his story, and his dedication to hospice and palliative care, check out his interview in the NY Times or his TED Talk. Dr. Miller founded the Zen Hospice Project in California. You can also see him in the first documentary we watched.
End Game (2018)
photo from IMDB
The description from Netflix says, “Facing an inevitable outcome, terminally ill patients meet extraordinary medical practitioners seeking to change our approach to life and death.” This 40 minute documentary follows terminally ill patients and their practitioners as they navigate the tricky world of end of life care. The goal of this documentary is to change the perception around hospice and palliative care. It’s both heart-breaking and beautiful. Check out the trailer on the Netflix website here. Everyone should watch this to better understand end of life care and the impacts on the providers, patients, and their families.
Extremis (2016)
photo from Wikipedia
The description from Netflix says, “Witness the wrenching emotions that accompany end-of-life decisions as doctors, patients and families in a hospital ICU face harrowing choices.” This short, 24-minute long documentary is packed full of emotions. The main provider in this documentary really shows the full range of emotions experienced by physicians when faced with having the tough end of life discussions. Not only does it show the hard times physicians go through caring for terminally ill patients, it also shows the heart-wrenching decisions family members must make when there are no advance directives in place. Check out the trailer on the Netflix website here.
Both of these documentaries will pull at your heartstrings. Be sure to have some tissues ready! Keep your mind open when watching these, so you can really see and listen to the lessons both teach on end of life care.
If you or a loved one is in need of hospice or palliative care, please call us at (270)826-2326 or make an online referral.
