In today’s world, suicide is considered the wrong choice
in one’s life. Many people who are against the notion of suicide believe that
there is a negative connotation that suicidal people are most likely selfish
and depressed, who are giving up on life. In my view I believe that suicide is
an unfortunate personal choice, but it is a personal choice. I do think it is
different though when one is willing to choose to die through the Death with
Dignity Act. This Oregon law allows people who are suffering great pain from a
terminal disease to have the choice to end their life with moral dignity via
medication from a doctor. This is a rather emotional documentary that opens up with a scene that shows and old man drinking a liquid barbiturate, Seconal, which sedates him quickly into a coma and then into death. Showing this on screen is quite sensitive to some, especially because most of the people featured throughout the film die before it ends. I only see their presence as different examples to represent the sides of the issue.
The film mainly follows a single woman, 54-year-old Cody Curtis, as she plans for death with dignity after being diagnosed with only six months left to live as a result of liver cancer. Richardson also films another cancer patient who does not believe in Death with Dignity, especially when it appears that certain insurance companies and the government may recommend or encourage it because it will save them the money that would go towards treatment. All in all, it is a controversial topic that is addressed sufficiently and respectably, which causes the audience to influence awareness.
This topic is supremely controversial. Your take on the situation was enlightening. It is important that you distinguished between suicide and suicide by the Death and Dignity Act because they are two very different actions. However, I would have enjoyed hearing more about your personal opinion on the matter. It would have provided me with some insight into how other people viewed the film and the controversy.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the documentary presents this controversial topic from multiple angles leaving the viewer well informed on the matter. Their is a stigma of cowardice that accompanies suicide in todays society, however in the case of "dying with dignity" I believe it takes a lot of courage to go through with it. We see Cody's struggle to decide when to take the drugs because she does not want to give up. She was a very strong woman who only gained the respect of her peers with the choice she made.
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