June 2, 1997 - As part of the “Voices of Minnesota" series, this program features two health related interviews. MPR’s John Biewen speaks with Dr. Ron Cranford of the Hennepin County Medical Center. Cranford is an ethicist and end-of-life specialist. Infertility specialist. MPR’s Stephanie Curtis speaks with Dr. Robert Jansen, author of "Overcoming Infertiity: A Compassionate Resource for Getting Pregnant." Program ends with MPR’s Brent Wolfe presenting a feature on new carousel in Kellogg, Minnesota.
November 1, 1991 - Minnesota Public Radio presents “Choosing Death,” a documentary which examines the issues of doctor-assisted suicide and euthanasia. Documentary includes interviews with patients, doctors, ethicists, and a visit to Holland, the only country in the world where euthanasia is performed openly.
July 12, 1978 - Dr. Ronald Cranford, of Hennepin County Medical Center; and Mr. John Markert, the Executive Director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, discuss the concept of brain death, and the problems in defining death. Both men have testified before the Minnesota legislature on the brain death issue, and Dr. Cranford was a consultant on the recent Stacey Ellison case in St. Paul in which the child was "brain dead" though still breathing with the help of a respirator. Cranford has been active in work to arrive at a definition of death. John Markert has opposed efforts to allow the use of brain death as a legal definition for determining when life has ended.