Three of the area’s largest health-care organizations have joined to hold free local screenings of “Being Mortal,” a PBS Frontline film, as part of a public awareness campaign on the importance of end-of-life discussions.

Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice, Central Maine Medical Center and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, in partnership with the Hospice Foundation of America, will show “Being Mortal” three times at three Lewiston-Auburn locations this month. The film follows Boston surgeon and writer Atul Gawande as he explores the relationship between doctors and dying patients and deals with his own father’s cancer diagnosis.

A panel will follow each screening to talk about how people can have end-of-life discussions with their loved ones. Panelists will include a local lawyer, health care professionals and community members.   

Screenings will be held:

* May 19, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Bates College in Lewiston, Olin Arts Center, Room 104;

* May 24, 10 a.m. to noon at Central Maine Community College in Auburn, Jalbert Hall auditorium;

* May 25, 6 to 8 p.m. at The Dolard and Priscilla Gendron Franco Center in Lewiston.

Screenings are free, but registration is required by calling St. Mary’s Mission Integration Office at 777-8805.