Extremis Documentary Falls Short at Oscars, Wins Over Palliative Care

by Christian SinclairLast night at the Oscars, there sure was a lot of excitement for many of my friends and colleagues, and I ' m not just talking about the surprise ending with La La Land winning Best Picture, then losing it in a tragic mistake of envelopes, to another well-deserving film Moonlight. That is because many of my friends and colleagues are strong advocates and wonderful clinicians who are vocal about excellent care at the end of life.The filmExtremis, which was released in April 2016 at the Tribeca Film Festival, was nominated for An Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject, but up against top competition did not end up taking home the Oscar. The winner last night was a film about the Syrian Civil Defense volunteer rescue workers calledThe White Helmets. The nomination forExtremis should really be considered a win, because now many more people are aware of it, and palliative care providers can use it as a discussion tool.Extremis offers a glimpse into the hectic and fragmented world of the Intensive Care Unit and the decisions doctors, patients and families make when the chances of survival reach the limits. The clinician who we follow isDr. Jessica Zitter, a Critical Care Specialist and board-certified palliative care physician.We see glimpses of her conversations with a diverse group of patients and families, never lingering on one discussion too long. Many phrases will feel familiar to palliative care and ICU staff as hope, miracles, uncertainty, and...
Source: Pallimed: A Hospice and Palliative Medicine Blog - Category: Palliative Care Tags: extremis film sinclair zitter Source Type: blogs