HW#53

Précis 1: Hospice vs. Hospital

Directed toward the much needed change medical practice, this article attempts to capture the importance of how the system works now and how it should work. It does this through the use of data and statistics that demonstrate how patients most commonly choose the type of care that they feel benefits them the most; the patients are also informed of their options for when they pass away.

 Précis 2: Daily Life in the Business of Death

“Raised by the Dead” has rewarded Mr. Palmer in a very personal way. “This project has given me the chance to have more in-depth conversations with my dad and grandpa about what they do,” he said. “It has definitely brought us closer together. My dad is very proud of his business and what he does, so he enjoys being able to share that with other people.”

After declining to join the undertaking business at Palmer & Sons, Scott Palmer went on to create his project named “raising the dead”. In this project he jumps into the world of his father and brothers career. He often describes throughout the article that while it is a normal topic for him, “it is a very foreign and uncomfortable subject matter for most people.”

Précis 3: A Doctor at the Funeral

This article expresses the emotional state of doctors who lose their patients in the field even if it is not their fault. It often stresses the fact that it is a natural part of medicine and therefore is unavoidable for people in that profession but even so, every doctor has an encounter with this grisly part of healthcare.

The majority of these articles (2&3) place emphasis on the view of death in the healthcare profession based on doctors and morticians opinions. The main reason for these P.O.V.s, I believe, is because they provide more insight from the actual people who undertake these processes, opposed to someone who is uneducated in the matter.

 

*Disclaimer* this interview is not my own because my town mortician was “not comfortable” with explaining his job for a course that he feels criticizes his line of work. However, I chose this interview from a website that contains pieces of scripts from a wide range of topics. I felt it fitting because it somewhat connects to the drama class while revealing some topics that are very important to me from this course.

Q: How did you become interested in this line of work?

A: I was born into. My father had a funeral home and granddad started it all.

Q: What sort of training do undertakers generally undergo?

A: It varies from place to place. In my case, I learned the basics by observing dad. Also, I've always been interested in biology. Some aspects of this job could be called 'scientific', but the most important thing we do is to comfort the living. They are the ones needing help: the dead are in God's hands.

Q: What do you enjoy most and least about this line of work?

A: There's a modicum of job security and steady supply of customers. Like least? You've got to be good at dealing with all sorts of people. Particularly in small towns, you haven't got much privacy. Also, you have to confront prejudice. Most people dislike what they don't understand and have warped ideas about morticians. Necrophiliacs or unduly morbid folks are rare in this profession. And conscientious morticians aren't swindlers either.

Q: Doesn't your work ever get to you?

A: I try to keep my work life and private lives separate. However, I can't help but feel a sense of waste with suicides - it's sad to realize how many don't value their own lives.

Q: How much does a typical funeral cost?

A: Think of it this way: a funeral should cost about as much as a wedding. It is similar to a wedding in some respects. Most people expect a funeral to cost a month's earnings or so. Often, however, when all things are factored in it comes closer to what most people earn in year. When I was younger I used to believe this was a huge waste of money. However, if it helps others honor folks dear to them, who can say whether that's a waste?

Q: How's the funeral business changing?

A: Several trends stand out. Cremation is becoming more widespread in many parts of the world. Also, large multinational funeral services are edging out smaller companies. Death is a profitable business and some large funeral services are now listed on stock exchanges. Finally, a backlash against this is emerging through the development of do-it-yourself funeral movements. That's good for the average consumer, but not for me.

Q: What advice do you have for persons looking for a funeral service?

A: First of all, it's good to do the groundwork in advance since we never really know when death will approach. Communicate your preferences to others. Get your memorial preferences down on paper, legally notarized if possible. Since prices for funeral services vary widely, those concerned about money should shop around.

The most interesting thing about this interview is how blunt it is about a topic that is uncomfortable for most. It also shows a side of morticians that no one really gets a chance to see because of the impression society has been giving people about those who take care of such rough situations. Aside from fleshing out this mortician’s personality throughout the text, the questions such as “Doesn't your work ever get to you?” hints towards the interviewer’s personality and goals for this interview.