Dr. Martin Welsh documentary to debut at Three Stages

“How can you live life to its fullest, right up to the end? ” It’s a fact: 80 percent of us say that when our time comes, we would prefer to die at home surrounded by those we love — not in a healthcare facility. In reality, 75 percent of us will actually die in a hospital or nursing home.

"Consider the Conversation," a documentary film by Terry Kaldhusdal and Mike Bernhagen, is designed to encourage the thoughtful consideration of the choices we make at the end of life and will make its West Coast debut on Monday, June 13, at 7 p.m. at Three Stages at Folsom Lake College.

"Consider the Conversation" features  Placerville physician Martin Welsh and his inspiring quality of life perspective as featured in a Los Angeles Times editorial, “100 Things Leading to a Single Choice.”

Dr. Welsh, a family physician, died in October 2010, after a six-year battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Inspiring and informative interviews with patients, family members, doctors like Ira Byock, nurses, clergy and experts in end of life care, such as Stephen Kiernan, are also included in the documentary.

Film producers Kaldhusdal and Bernhagen — long-time friends motivated by personal experiences with loss — will attend this event and share their personal inspirations for the film.

“While working on 'Consider the Conversation,' people would say to me that the focal point of the film must be the act of dying, but it’s not. The heart of the film, and the heart of our national discussion, should be how each of us wants to live before we die,” said Kaldhusdal.

The film’s producers will join community end-of-life experts in offering perspectives and a panel discussion immediately following the film screening. This event is sponsored by Marshall Medical Center and Sacramento News & Review. Community resource information will be made available after the film in the lobby by supporting organizations, Partners in Care and Snowline Hospice and Center for Healthcare Decisions.

“A rich and engaging portrait of why we need to have end-of-life wishes respected,” said Ellen Goodman, Pulitzer Prize-Winning columnist, of "Consider the Conversation."

Tickets are available at the Folsom Three Stages Ticket Office 916-608-6888 or online at threestages.net. Service fees apply on all ticket sales. The ticket office is opened from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Saturday, and two hours before performances.

Three Stages at Folsom Lake College is located at 10 College Parkway, Folsom.

For information and a preview of the film visit considertheconversation.org.