Episcopal Chaplain at the Bedside blog: This past week the Center for Practical Bioethics hosted the 2013 Joan Berkley Bioethics Symposium – Conversations At The Crossroads. At the web site you can see the list of speakers who participated in the Symposium. In due time as well the individual presentations will be available at the Center’s web site. However, one part of the Symposium is already available. In the midst of the day, keynoter Ellen Goodman was interviewed live on “Up to Date,” a daily program of KCUR, the Kansas City NPR station. Goodman, well known as a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, spoke about The Conversation Project, an organization she started to support and encourage families in talking about values and goals for care at the end of life. That show has been archived, and can be heard here.
I have long said that these are conversations that need to happen at home and well before there is a need. That is also the purpose of The Conversation Project. Goodman speaks about how this program grew out of her own experience. It’s well worth an hour of your time to hear what she has to say.