Recently, as I was perusing Netflix, typical of any lazy Saturday morning, I found myself browsing the newly released documentaries, my personal favorite category. I realized that I was up to date on watching all of the sex/gender/marijuana/overweight related documentaries, so it was finally time to spring for a new theme. Unknowing of the content, I stumbled upon a new release called How to Die in Oregon. The title alone took me by surprise for its sheer bluntness.
After reading the brief summary, I decided to give it a chance. Little did I know, in the course of the next two hours, I would find myself laughing and crying with the subjects of this film. Their life stories, all unique and intriguing, had led them to the decision to utilize Oregon’s law that legalized physician-assisted suicide. These brave individuals, particularly the story of Cody Curtis, touched my heart and I felt the sheer pain experienced in their lives for their wish to die on their own terms.
Cody Curtis, an individual tracked in the documentary who chooses to initiate a legal death by physician-assisted suicide.
As a result of this law’s passage, more than 500 people have chosen to legally end their lives by lethal overdose after receiving a diagnosis of six months or less to live. The thought that I could ever literally want to end my life was something I had never really fathomed until seeing the hardships experienced by the people in this film. Though the decision is difficult and causes many to leave behind loved ones who are less than understanding, utilizing this right is a very powerful and personal choice.
The idea of death with dignity is not exactly new to me as I have studied it rather intensely in a Spanish contemporary issues course. Called la muerte con dignidad, the death with dignity proposition is something very controversial across the world. Having heard, however, the stories of people who suffer and truly believe death is their best option, has changed my views on this issue. I now support this action, with some natural reservations.
Many of you may recall the Terri Schiavo case during which a woman remained in a vegetative state for weeks at a time while the debate to keep her on life support with no brain activity heated up intensely. While the scenario is quite different for living and functioning individuals, the idea of physician-assisted suicide is not to be taken lightly. It is a permanent decision, one from which no one recovers. The choice, however, at least for citizens of Oregon, is in their own hands. The film, How to Die in Oregon, will surely tug at your heart and force you to ask the question: How am I going to die?
Interested in seeing the film? Click here for more information.
