Paul Scheier had 38 days to live. With his death imminent from lung cancer, he chose not to spend his final weeks fighting the inevitable–but rather enjoying lunch at his favorite pub, playing liar’s poker with friends, and saying goodbye to his family. He also agreed to have his journey chronicled by Consumer Reports, believing that was a last meaningful gesture he could make to help others. Paul Scheier’s story anchored a unique multiplatform project that included a major magazine article and a special Web page featuring a 17-minute documentary film, online audio clips from Paul’s doctor and family, links to end-of-life caregiver resources, data-driven graphics, and access to Consumer Reports’ custom Stori.es platform for readers to share their experiences–each piece of content unique to its medium. “A Beautiful Death” is a poignant, deeply moving package that celebrates life and poses profound questions about how we choose to die. The multimedia experience offers readers and viewers a different way to think about one’s mortality. The American medical complex today encourages an increasingly frail person to undergo numerous treatments that can leave families emotionally–and often financially–broken. From the moment of diagnosis, Paul opted to forgo chemotherapy or other aggressive treatment and to use his final months to get affairs in order for his wife and children–and to truly savor life. “I felt it was getting close to my time, so why not live happily for the next six months or year?” he told us. Even as his body became weak and his breathing labored, 87-year-old Paul Scheier showed that it is possible to choose the way one wants to die.
