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Ep. 56 The Psychology of Self-Determination: The Right to Live, Die, and Make Amends

Bramson on Bramson.

Drs. Bramson finally record a podcast together. Dr. Jim interviews his father Dr. Allan Bramson, on the occasion of his 88th birthday.

Who is Dr. Allan Bramson? Besides being the senior Bramson who had to deal with Jim’s recalcitrance and shenanigans in high school, he was a storied professor and pioneer in the areas of death and dying, video wills, and euthanasia. He even started a career institute that catered to under-resourced students. 

Allan fought alongside Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the famous advocate for the right to choose how and when to end our life in the face of chronic and intractable diseases. Allan came to know him personally, as an artist, not just as an empathic physician. Allan also came to know Kevorkian’s attorney, Jeffrey Fieger (famous brother of the possibly more famous lead singer of the Knack, Doug Fieger). Like his pal Jeffrey Fieger, Allan studied law and advocated for social justice, self-determination, and dignity in death. 

During the interview, Allan gets real and discusses his stage 4 cancer, his divorce, and his long separation from his son Jim (your host) and their timely reconciliation. Perhaps it is a testimony to forgiveness, loving-kindness, acceptance, and transcending ego. Perhaps it offers a lesson in self-determination, i.e. whether we choose to invest in important historical people we have long lost contact with. Do we embrace family and friends who left us? Can we overcome feelings of abandonment and/or pride? When does it make sense to lean into relationships when others might advise us to lean out? Tune in, as it may help you grapple with answers to these questions in your own life.