THE TOMORROW PEOPLE and ARROW add to Wednesday Night Strength as CTV Takes Four of Top Five Programs
W5 Examines Life, Death, and Care for the Dying with Recently Passed Palliative Care Pioneer, Dr. Larry Librach
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TORONTO (October 10, 2013) – This week, W5’s “THE FINAL WORD” explores the emotional topic of end-of-life care as seen through the eyes of Dr. Larry Librach as he experiences the final weeks of his own life. Airing this Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. ET on CTV, Medical Specialist Dr. Marla Shapiro is given exclusive access to Librach, who almost single-handedly pioneered the model for palliative care in Canada and around the world. Librach recently succumbed to terminal pancreatic cancer.
In a profession aimed at curing or controlling disease, Librach was a trailblazer who dedicated his life work to caring for people with life threatening diseases, helping them die without pain, at home surrounded by loved ones. Now facing his own terminal diagnosis, Librach candidly shares views about his own fate with Shapiro, who delivers a poignant and powerful glimpse into the final days of the doctor who became a world-renowned advocate for universal palliative care. Librach, who opposed physician-assisted suicide, bravely emphasized the right of every patient and their family to enjoy a peaceful transition through the process of death.
Shapiro also meets with famous Canadian entertainers Sharon Hampson and Bram Morrison, best known for their time hosting the children’s program, The Elephant Show. Librach was instrumental in helping Sharon and Bram through the deaths of their respective spouses, Joe and Ruth.
During his interview with W5, Librach discusses the state of palliative care in Canada and notes the shortcomings he experienced firsthand. With the baby boom generation approaching old age, end-of-life care is becoming an acute issue, one that more and more Canadians will face. Among Librach’s final words, “Nobody likes to talk about it [death]. Nobody likes to bring it out in the open. We need to make sure that people are cared for at both ends of life, and in-between.”
W5 also airs Saturdays at 9 p.m. ET on CTV Two, and can be seen on Investigation Discovery on Tuesdays at 11 p.m. ET, and Wednesdays 12 noon ET; on demand at CTVNews.ca/W5; the CTV App, the CTV Mobile channel on Bell Mobile TV, and through video on demand partners, such as Bell Fibe TV (visit CTV.ca for local listings). W5 is also simulcast in Toronto on CFRB Newstalk 1010.
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About W5
With an ongoing commitment to covering tough, relevant stories with fair and responsible reporting, W5 is in its 48th season of investigative journalism. Hosted by CTV NATIONAL NEWS’ Lloyd Robertson, the award-winning series is the most-watched documentary program in Canada. Anton Koschany is Executive Producer of W5. Brett Mitchell is Senior Producer. Wendy Freeman is President, CTV News.
About CTV
CTV is Canada’s #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada’s most-watched television network for the past 12 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network’s website at ctv.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Patricia Garcia, Bell Media, 416.384.2645 or patricia.garcia@bellmedia.ca
Julie MacFarlane, Bell Media, 416.384.4623 or julie.macfarlane@bellmedia.ca
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