End-of-life care on screen: the fictionalisation of palliative care

And the Oscar, Emmy, BAFTA… goes to… is a phrase that exemplifies the prestigious professional and public recognition of achievement in television and film production. Each year, the various academies' annual awards ceremonies identify, reward, celebrate and commemorate the best contributions to both the big and small screen industries, often with glittering and theatrical stage shows and occasional celebrity controversy.

Coverage of the pomp and pageantry of accolade events can often be as captivating as the box office hits or television productions being nominated. However, the actual content—whether factual or fictional—while fascinating, enthralling and undeniably entertaining (if not always educational), often presents a more inaccurate portrayal or misleading impression of the experiences depicted than reality itself. The American scholar, author, activist and social critic Bell Hooks suggested that ‘movies do not just mirror the culture of any given time; they also create it.’ When it comes to cancer, palliative and end-of-life care, these portrayals are often more fanciful and dramatic than factual or true to reality.