Colorado's legislature continues to debate passing a Death With Dignity bill in the state. Dr. Charles Hamlin presents "Mortality, Morality and Honor: The End-of-Life Paradigm," a visit to the landscape of the Last Chapter with a philosophic bent, humor, some data but no dogma. Looking at our attitudes, hopes and fears, and taking into account the roles of medicine, law, government and spirituality, Hamlin hopes to de-mystify and broaden the conversation about Death With Dignity.

Following Dr. Hamlin's talk, a community panel will continue the conversation and broaden the perspective, including Vicki Barron, RN, from the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association Hospice and Palliative Care team, Father Ernest Bayer from Holy Name Catholic Church, and Amy Ibarra, Horizons' director of service coordination. Invitations to participate in this community conversation have also been extended to state legislators , as they are expected to once again be debating a Death With Dignity bill in the current legislative session.

About the speaker
Dr. Charles Hamlin is a part-time resident of Routt County and a surgeon for traumatic and reconstructive surgery of the hand in Denver. He received a Batchelor of Medical Science from Dartmouth Medical school and his medical degree from Columbia, College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York, and is an assistant clinical professor of hand surgery at the University of Colorado School of Health Sciences. Dr. Hamlin was a co-founder of the Alliance for Contemporary Art at the Denver Museum, has served on the board of Colorado Outward Bound, conceived and organized a pro bono clinic on the Navajo Nation where he now operates a monthly hand service at the Chinle Indian Health Service Hospital in Arizona, and he has served on the board of directors for Compassion and Choices since 2005.He was given the Humanitarian Award by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons in 2001.

About the library's Health Perspectives Series
This is an ongoing, once-in-an-occasional series of talks, workshops and films that brings together professional expertise in nutrition, exercise and general health for free community programs at the Bud Werner Memorial Library.