What happens when a patient’s wishes go unspoken at the end of life?
In this powerful talk, Anao Zhang shares the story of a 19-year-old with advanced cancer, caught between his family’s cultural beliefs and his own quiet wish to die at home. It’s a story about silence—what it protects, and what it costs.
Dr. Zhang is a palliative care social worker and researcher focused on adolescents and young adults with cancer. His work sits at the intersection of clinical care, mental health, and human connection, helping patients and families navigate some of the most difficult conversations we face.
His message is clear: silence causes more suffering at the end of life than death itself.
This talk is an invitation—not to have perfect words, but to begin. To listen. To make space for what matters most.
Watch more from End Well and join the conversation about how we care for one another at the end of life.
