1. Provide the title of your story or series and the names of the journalists involved.
"Bunny's Last Days: When Living Will Isn't Enough," and sidebars "Living Wills Often Ignored" and "Palliative Care is Designed to Help Patients Understand Options," by Susan Brink.
2. List date(s) this work was published or aired.
March 5, 2010. Kaiser Health News, posted on msnbc.com
3. Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
"Good deaths are fewer than bad deaths." That's the the troubling message of a story about Bunny Olenick's final days. The story points out that even when family members are in agreement and even when end-of-life issues have been discussed long beforehand, difficult decisions remain.
4. Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
I examined the Health Policy bill (before passage) and compared it's components to the news frenzy of the time which wanted to label palliative care as "death panels." I examined the most recent medical studies looking at palliative care. I read studies analyzing the cost savings of palliative care. I read "Hard Choices for Loving People," by Hank Dunn which looks objectively at the physical, medical and pain consequences of life-saving efforts such as CPR and the quality of life following such efforts.
5. Explain types of human sources used.
I extensively interviewed Bunny Olenick's two sons and a daughter-in-law about their decision to end life support. I interviewed top end-of-life experts, including Joanne Lynn, author of two books on end-of-life issues. I talked with experts in medicine and religion. On the religious front, I interviewed the Rev. George Handzo who eloquently explained that medicine and real-life families are speaking different languages. "The medical system is talking science. Families are thinking religion and values," he said.
6. Results (if any).
The story was timely in that there has been much discussion of end-of-life care and extreme interpretations, such as "death panels." There was a long discussion, mostly civil and informative, in the comments section after the story ran. Some people indicated they would create a living will.
7. Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No follow-up. No Corrections. No clarifications.
8. Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Spend a lot of time with the family. They are going to deep emotional territory and need time and a lot of respect as they tell their story. Go back to them a few times, days apart. You'll find they remember important details in the time since you've last interviewed them.