Arts Health & Safety

Is Honesty The Best Policy When Someone Is Dying?

by NPR/TED Staff

Matthew O'Reilly shares his experiences of being an EMT in his TED talk.
Matthew O'Reilly shares his experiences of being an EMT in his TED talk. Ryan Lash / TED

Part 4 of the TED Radio Hour episode Rethinking Death

About Matthew O'Reilly's TED Talk

As an emergency medical technician, Matthew O'Reilly was used to telling a white lie when patients asked if they were dying. O'Reilly describes what happened on one emergency call, when he decided to tell the truth.

About Matthew O'Reilly

Matthew O'Reilly is a veteran emergency medical technician on Long Island, N.Y.

Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit NPR.

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