End-Of-Life Documentary Wins Health Care Journalism Award

My friend and fellow health care reporter Rachel Gotbaum just won a first place national award for her series on WBUR about end-of-life care, and the critical decisions patients, families, doctors and society must make about coming to terms with death.

Here's what the judges from the Association of Health Care Journalists said about the 2009 series, produced and reported by Gotbaum and two WBUR colleagues, Anna Bensted and George Hicks, called "Quality of Death, End Of Life Care In America — Inside Out":

"Quality of Death" is fascinating, with compelling sound and characters. I found myself sitting in my parked car not wanting to turn it off. I think this topic is often overlooked, and perhaps this piece will encourage families to talk about end-of-life issues before the critical moments when emotions and stress take over.