List date(s) this work was published or aired.
7/24/2011
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
The death of my father led me on a journey to answer this question: “What do you die of when you die in your sleep, and is it as peaceful as everyone assumes?” It was surprising how many readers had wondered the exact same thing. This exploration of what comprises “a peaceful death,” holds lessons for the living.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
A search of studies with the assistance of the National Library of Medicine turned up several studies, including one about how the brain cells in the breathing “command” post of people’s brain die off with age, which could be a contributing factor to older people dying in their sleep. Also turned up a study on SIDS deaths and the chemistry behind that phenomenon.
Explain types of human sources used.
The state’s medical examiner explained what people usually die of when they die in their sleep. An emergency doctor explained the science of the heart and how quickly people fall unconscious when the rhythm of the heart goes awry. A palliative care doctor talked about end-of-life scenarios. And the list serve of this organization turned up additional “dying in your sleep” examples that broadened the array of the phenomonon.
Results:
A huge outpouring of emails from people who had wondered whether their loved ones had experienced a peaceful death. A number had felt guilty because morphine had been used at the end, but the palliative care doctor’s explanation put them at ease. Many people said they wanted to know the facts of death but never asked a doctor because they deemed it “too late” to bother. But clearly many people wanted to know. Readers appreciated a scientific look at the subject that was personal yet not melodramatic. One reader said he thought it was going to be a sad story, but that it turned out to be “darned interesting.”
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.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Pay attention to what’s going on in your personal life. If there’s a health question that pops into your mind, it’s likely one that is intriguing to others as well. In this case, I had several conversations with friends about dying in your sleep and the dialogue was fascinating, so I thought, hey, that would make a good story. My editor agreed.