[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.82,0:00:04.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've been a critical care EMT for the past\Nseven years in Suffolk County, New York.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:04.52,0:00:06.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've been a first responder in a number of incidents
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.36,0:00:09.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ranging from car accidents to Hurricane Sandy.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.68,0:00:11.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you are like most people, death might be
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.42,0:00:13.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one of your greatest fears.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.39,0:00:14.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of us will see it coming.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.81,0:00:16.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of us won't.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.81,0:00:18.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is a little-known documented medical term
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.91,0:00:20.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called impending doom.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.86,0:00:22.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's almost a symptom.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.19,0:00:23.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As a medical provider, I'm trained to respond
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.92,0:00:25.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to this symptom like any other,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.74,0:00:27.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so when a patient having a heart attack looks at me
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.28,0:00:29.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and says, "I'm going to die today,"
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.51,0:00:33.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we are trained to reevaluate the patient's condition.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.24,0:00:35.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Throughout my career, I have responded
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.38,0:00:37.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to a number of incidents where the patient
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.33,0:00:38.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had minutes left to live
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.96,0:00:42.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there was nothing I could do for them.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.09,0:00:44.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With this, I was faced with a dilemma:
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.88,0:00:48.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do I tell the dying that they are about to face death,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.59,0:00:51.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or do I lie to them to comfort them?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.62,0:00:53.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Early in my career, I faced this dilemma
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.81,0:00:55.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by simply lying.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.37,0:00:57.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was afraid.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.30,0:00:59.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was afraid if I told them the truth,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.64,0:01:02.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they would die in terror, in fear,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.98,0:01:06.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just grasping for those last moments of life.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.18,0:01:08.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That all changed with one incident.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.95,0:01:11.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Five years ago, I responded to a motorcycle accident.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.80,0:01:14.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The rider had suffered critical, critical injuries.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.60,0:01:17.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As I assessed him, I realized that there was nothing
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.43,0:01:19.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that could be done for him,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.40,0:01:22.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and like so many other cases,\Nhe looked me in the eye
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.66,0:01:27.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and asked that question: "Am I going to die?"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.08,0:01:30.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In that moment, I decided to do something different.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.58,0:01:33.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I decided to tell him the truth.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.46,0:01:36.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I decided to tell him that he was going to die
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.56,0:01:39.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that there was nothing I could do for him.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.82,0:01:43.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His reaction shocked me to this day.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.60,0:01:45.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He simply laid back and had a look
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.50,0:01:47.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of acceptance on his face.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.93,0:01:49.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was not met with that terror or fear
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.63,0:01:52.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I thought he would be.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.01,0:01:55.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He simply laid there, and as I looked into his eyes,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.22,0:01:57.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I saw inner peace and acceptance.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.95,0:01:59.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,From that moment forward, I decided
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.69,0:02:04.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was not my place to comfort the dying with my lies.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.40,0:02:07.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Having responded to many cases since then
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.15,0:02:09.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where patients were in their last moments
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.66,0:02:11.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there was nothing I could do for them,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.51,0:02:13.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in almost every case,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.15,0:02:16.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they have all had the same reaction to the truth,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.48,0:02:18.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of inner peace and acceptance.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.55,0:02:20.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, there are three patterns
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.97,0:02:25.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have observed in all these cases.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.25,0:02:28.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The first pattern always kind of shocked me.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.90,0:02:32.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Regardless of religious belief or cultural background,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.84,0:02:35.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's a need for forgiveness.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.68,0:02:37.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Whether they call it sin
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.22,0:02:40.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or they simply say they have a regret,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.09,0:02:42.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their guilt is universal.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.50,0:02:43.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had once cared for an elderly gentleman
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.90,0:02:46.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who was having a massive heart attack.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.32,0:02:48.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As I prepared myself and my equipment
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.44,0:02:51.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for his imminent cardiac arrest,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.37,0:02:55.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I began to tell the patient of his imminent demise.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.72,0:02:58.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He already knew by my tone\Nof voice and body language.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.72,0:03:01.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As I placed the defibrillator pads on his chest,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.38,0:03:03.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,prepping for what was going to happen,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.29,0:03:05.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he looked me in the eye and said,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.82,0:03:08.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I wish I had spent more time with\Nmy children and grandchildren
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.52,0:03:11.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,instead of being selfish with my time."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.59,0:03:13.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Faced with imminent death,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.92,0:03:16.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all he wanted was forgiveness.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.85,0:03:18.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The second pattern I observe
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.74,0:03:21.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is the need for remembrance.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.03,0:03:23.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Whether it was to be remembered in my thoughts
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.29,0:03:25.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or their loved ones', they needed to feel
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.00,0:03:27.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they would be living on.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.15,0:03:29.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a need for immortality
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.47,0:03:32.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,within the hearts and thoughts of their loved ones,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.12,0:03:35.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,myself, my crew, or anyone around.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.39,0:03:38.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Countless times, I have had a \Npatient look me in the eyes
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.28,0:03:42.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and say, "Will you remember me?"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.22,0:03:44.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The final pattern I observe
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.67,0:03:47.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,always touched me the deepest, to the soul.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.90,0:03:51.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The dying need to know that their life had meaning.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.44,0:03:54.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They need to know that they did not waste their life
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.22,0:03:57.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on meaningless tasks.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.17,0:04:00.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This came to me very, very early in my career.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.32,0:04:02.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had responded to a call.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.41,0:04:04.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was a female in her late 50s
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.33,0:04:06.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,severely pinned within a vehicle.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.39,0:04:10.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She had been t-boned at a high rate of speed,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.07,0:04:12.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,critical, critical condition.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.50,0:04:14.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As the fire department worked\Nto remove her from the car,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.74,0:04:17.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I climbed in to begin to render care.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.71,0:04:20.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As we talked, she had said to me,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.77,0:04:23.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"There was so much more\NI wanted to do with my life."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.98,0:04:27.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She had felt she had not left her mark on this Earth.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.83,0:04:29.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As we talked further, it would turn out
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.79,0:04:32.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that she was a mother of two adopted children
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.20,0:04:35.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who were both on their way to medical school.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.31,0:04:37.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because of her, two children
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.38,0:04:40.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had a chance they never would have had otherwise
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.10,0:04:42.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and would go on to save lives in the medical field
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.32,0:04:44.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as medical doctors.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.68,0:04:46.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It would end up taking 45 minutes
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.47,0:04:48.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to free her from the vehicle.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.34,0:04:52.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However, she perished prior to freeing her.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.57,0:04:54.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I believed what you saw in the movies:
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.66,0:04:55.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you're in those last moments
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.94,0:04:58.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that it's strictly terror, fear.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.86,0:05:01.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have come to realize,\Nregardless of the circumstance,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.54,0:05:04.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's generally met with peace and acceptance,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.45,0:05:08.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that it's the littlest things, the littlest moments,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.14,0:05:11.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the littlest things you brought into the world
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.70,0:05:14.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that give you peace in those final moments.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.63,0:05:16.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.66,0:05:20.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)