Assisted Lab’s Living Archive of Assisted Dying
Forthcoming 'Quelques heures de printemps'
Stéphane Brizé (director and writer), Florence Vignon (writer)
Following 18 months in prison, Alain goes to live with his elderly mother, who is living with cancer. Knowing that her cancer is progressing, Alain’s mother decides that she wants to end her life. Although he is initially sceptical, Alain decides to support her decision to end her life and travels with her to Switzerland, where their extremely tumultuous relationship is restored on her deathbed.
'Les mots de la fin' by Gaëlle Hardy
Gaëlle Hardy (director and writer), Agnès Lejeune (director and writer)
Marking almost twenty years since the introduction of euthanasia in Belgium, this documentary provides insights from the office of Dr Damas, a physician responsible for assisted dying in a Belgian public hospital.
'Dies Irae' by Danièle Saint-Bois
Danièle Saint-Bois
Following two extremely difficult years suffering with cancer, artist Alicia D. decides she wants to end her life. With the help of her doctor and a nurse, who is also a love interest, Alicia receives an actively hastened death, beyond the provisions of the 2005 Léonetti Law.
'Muttertag' by Ralf Schlatter
Ralf Schlatter
A man takes a walking trip towards his mother’s house to help her to die. During this one-day trip in her direction, he remembers his childhood and his mother, and tries to understand her decision to opt for an assisted death.
'O Sentido da Vida' by Stop eutanásia
Stop eutanásia
Through succinct scenes and tableaux, this short film produced by the Portuguese anti-euthanasia group ‘Stop eutanásia’ casts euthanasia as the antithesis to hope, encouraging viewers to ‘say yes to life.’ It was circulated on social media amidst increasing debates in Portugal about legalizing euthanasia in 2021.
Forthcoming 'Better Off Dead?'
Liz Carr (writer/presenter), James Routh (director)
This BBC documentary follows actor and disability campaigner Liz Carr as she explores reasons why assisted dying, which she calls assisted suicide, should not be legalised in the UK. It is unusual both for constituting a mainstream programme that openly opposes legalisation of assisted dying, and for doing so using humour.
'Je vous demande le droit de mourir' by Vincent Humbert
Vincent Humbert (with Frédéric Veille)
Following a life-changing accident, which left Vincent Humbert paraplegic, blind and mute, the young man decided that he wanted to end his life and wrote to the French President in search of help. This text is his story, one of the most significant in the history of the assisted dying debate in France.
Me Before You
Thea Sharrock (director), Jojo Moyes (writer)
Following a road traffic collision, Will Traynor is paralysed and in need of constant care. His parents employ a young woman, Louisa Clark, to care for their son and Will and Louisa strike up an unlikely friendship and, later, a romance. Despite Louisa’s efforts to persuade Will that his life is still worth living, he decides to travel to Switzerland to end his life.
'Recordings' by Roger Foley
Roger Foley
In these audio recordings, Roger Foley discusses medical assistance in dying with staff of the hospital where he lives. In the conversations, hospital staff raise the possibility of medical assistance in dying as Roger, who never mentioned the issue, asserts his need for self-directed funding so he can live in the community.
'Million Dollar Baby' by Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood (director and producer), Paul Haggis (screenwriter)
In this sports drama, Maggie Fitzgerald rises through the boxing ranks with the guidance of trainer Frankie Dunn and his long-time friend Scrap before becoming a quadriplegic from an injury sustained in a fight. The film garnered critical acclaim and won four Academy Awards, including for Best Picture, but drew criticism from disability rights activists for its portrayal of disability.
'By the Time Your Read This, I’ll Be Dead' by John Hofsess
John Hofsess
In this article, right to die activist John Hofsess reveals that he illegally helped eight people kill themselves from 1999 to 2001, including the Canadian poet Al Purdy. Hofsess portrays himself in a positive light, as a hero of the assisted suicide cause, but a 2022 article by journalist Sandra Martin casts doubt on both his character and motivations.
'How to die in Oregon' by Peter Richardson
Peter Richardson (director)
This documentary follows the stories of a number of individuals in Oregon who have chosen to, or are considering, making use of the state’s death with dignity law. Through these stories, it paints the legalization of assisted suicide in an extremely positive light, demonstrating the gratitude and relief of individuals who can legally access medications which will end their lives.
'This is Cancer in The End' by Amanda Villegas
Amanda Villegas
In this series of photographs, Amanda Villegas documents the final days in the life of her husband, Chris Davis, as he dies from bladder cancer. Although Chris wanted to access medical aid in dying, he was unable to do so because of misinformation and procedural requirements in California’s End of Life Option Act at the time of his death.
'Mar adentro' by Alejandro Amenábar
Alejandro Amenábar (director and writer), Mateo Gil (writer)
For almost thirty years, Ramón Sampedro has been paralysed from the neck down. Having had enough of his paraplegic state, Ramón decides that he wants to die and seeks the help of an assisted dying lobby group to generate support for his case. When all legal avenues fail, a small group of his friends help Ramón to end his life.
'You Don't Know Jack' by Barry Levinson
Barry Levinson (director), Adam Mazer (writer)
‘You Don’t Know Jack’ recounts the period in Dr. Jack Kevorkian’s life between 1990 when he assisted in the death of Janet Adkins and 1998 when, after assisting in over 100 deaths, he was convicted of second-degree murder for assisting in the death of Thomas Youk. The film portrays the controversial Kevorkian in a very flattering light, as an underdog and hero, and, above all, a caring doctor.
'Alisa pokupaet smert'' by Liudmila Ulitskaia
Liudmila Ulitskaia
Alisa, an elderly woman, faces a minor medical incident that prompts her to confront the prospect of dying alone. Determined to retain control over her final chapter, she obtains a bottle of barbiturates from a physician. She then falls in love with and marries him. After his tragic death, she adopts his grandchild, and embarks on a new chapter of her life.
'Supernova' by Harry Macqueen
Harry Macqueen
Tusker and Sam, romantic partners for over twenty years, face Tusker’s early onset dementia diagnosis by taking a road trip around the United Kingdom to visit their favourite places. All is well until Sam discovers that Tusker plans to end his life before he is dependent on others for his personal care.
Forthcoming 'Lettre à D. Histoire d’un amour'
André Gorz
The social philosopher André Gorz cared for his ill wife Dorine for two decades. In 2007, they took their own lives together. A year earlier, Gorz had published a narrative public love letter to his wife which was subsequently read by both the media and assisted dying interest groups as a farewell letter and explanation of their motivation for suicide.
Forthcoming 'Last Cab to Darwin'
Jeremy Sims (director and writer), Reg Cribb (writer)
Loosely based on real events in the mid-1990s during a brief period when voluntary assisted dying was legal in Australia’s Northern Territory, this fiction film follows terminally ill taxi driver Rex as he drives 3,000km north to Darwin to try to become the first person in the world to die using an assisted dying machine.
'Arbeit und Struktur' by Wolfgang Herrndorf
Wolfgang Herrndorf
Wolfgang Herrndorf originally wrote this text as a blog, which he began in 2010, after being diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour. The text, which was published as a book after his suicide, vehemently advocates for the right to assisted suicide and was therefore used as a plea in public and political debates by those in favour of legalizing that right.
'Manon: Le Dernier Droit' by Benoît Dutrizac, André Saint-Pierre, Marie-Josée Lévesque, et al.
Benoît Dutrizac, André Saint-Pierre, Marie-Josée Lévesque, et al.
After battling multiple sclerosis for much of her life, Manon Brunelle attempted to take her life herself. After this unsuccessful attempt, the documentary tells the story of why she is choosing to end her life in Switzerland through the organization Dignitas.
'Intervals' by Marianne Brooker
Marianne Brooker
Having lived with a progressive form of multiple sclerosis for ten years, Marianne Brooker’s mother voluntarily stopped eating and drinking, a legal approximation of assisted dying in the UK. Brooker’s long-form essay about her mother’s decision and her own experience caring for her at the end positions Brooker’s demand for assisted dying options within wider issues of social justice.
'Tout s’est bien passé' by François Ozon
François Ozon (director and writer), Emmanuèle Bernheim (writer), Philippe Piazzo (writer)
Following a transient ischemic attack, André Bernheim, the father of novelist Emmanuèle Bernheim, asks his daughter to help him end his life. The film follows Emmanuèle and her sister, Pascale, as they come to terms with their father’s decision and try to navigate the complex legalities that surround assisted dying for French citizens in Switzerland.
'Witte flits' by Laura Hermanides
Laura Hermanides (director and writer), Roelof Jan Minneboo (writer)
Rick has been suffering from severe psychological issues for twenty years. His persistent wish not to live any longer is acknowledged by a psychiatrist, who assists with his suicide. Rick is actively supported by his parents, who come to recognize the hopelessness of their son’s situation.
'At His Own Wake, Celebrating Life and the Gift of Death' by Catherine Porter
Catherine Porter
In this New York Times cover story, Catherine Porter recounts the assisted death of John Shields, an activist, environmentalist, and union leader from Vancouver Island. The article appeared shortly before the one-year anniversary of the legalization of medical assistance in dying in Canada and explores how assisted death impacts the rituals surrounding death.
'Tanner geht' by Wolfgang Prosinger
Wolfgang Prosinger
51-year-old Ulrich Tanner, who lived in Cologne, suffered from various incurable diseases and took his own life in Switzerland with the help of the organisation Dignitas. Journalist Wolfgang Prosinger accompanied and interviewed Tanner in his last months and wrote a book about his life and his decision to commit assisted suicide.
Forthcoming 'In the Presence of a Spoon'
Karin Wells
Margot Bentley was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1999, after writing a living will in 1991. Her daughter states in this radio documentary that her wish to be euthanized when she could no longer recognize her own family was not honoured by the court due to the fact she would open her mouth in the presence of a spoon while being fed.
Forthcoming 'Die Fliegengöttin'
Hansjörg Schertenleib
Willem and Eilis de Witt have been married for over 50 years when Eilis is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Willem has already been caring for his wife for two years, but is now reaching the limits of his resilience. While he had promised his wife he would euthanize her if this ever became the case, he refrains from doing so at the last moment.
'Je ne suis pas un assassin' by Frédéric Chaussoy
Frédéric Chaussoy
Dr Frédéric Chaussoy, the intensivist who made the decision to turn off Vincent Humbert’s life support machine, shares his story in this short, powerful text. Blending a first-person account of the events leading up to Vincent’s death with engaged writing and insights from Chaussoy’s family, the text is an ardent defence of the doctor’s actions and calls France to do better at accompanying death.
'Die letzte Reise' by Florian Baxmeyer
Florian Baxmeyer (director) and Thorsten Näter (writer)
76-year-old Katharina, who lives in Hamburg, decides to travel to Zurich to take her own life with the help of an assisted suicide organisation. Her daughter, Heike, tries to prevent this through court proceedings, where she argues that her mother lacks the mental capacity to make this decision. But Katharina is able to convince the judge of her mental competence and ends up travelling to Zurich.
'Blackbird' by Roger Mitchell
Roger Mitchell (director) & Christian Torpe (writer)
Lily, the matriarch of her family, is diagnosed with ALS and takes the decision to end her life with the help of her spouse, Paul. The film follows her as she invites her family for a final weekend together in their beach home, where the different ways in which the family members deal with Lily’s planned death are shown.
'All is Beauty/The Most Beautiful Exit' by Simons
La Maison Simons, Broken Heart Love Affair
The advertisement All is Beauty depicts in a positive light the final days of a woman’s life prior to her choosing to receive an assisted death. It was, however, pulled after news reports revealed that the protagonist had been vocal about the lack of support for her illness, and how this influenced her desire for an assisted death.
'Last Flight Home' by Ondi Timoner
Ondi Timoner (director)
Ondi Timoner tells the story of her father, Eli Timoner, a former entrepreneur and founder of an airline, who chooses to end his life by medical assistance in dying under California’s End of Life Option Act.
Forthcoming 'Bill C7'
Jane Shi
In a 10-word poem entitled ‘Bill C7: An Overview of Available Help’, Jane Shi responds critically to the extension of Canada’s medical assistance in dying regime to include people whose death is not reasonably foreseeable, but who nevertheless have a serious medical condition.
'Quelques heures de printemps' by Stéphane Brizé
Stéphane Brizé (director and writer), Florence Vignon (writer)
Following 18 months in prison, Alain goes to live with his elderly mother, who is living with cancer. Knowing that her cancer is progressing, Alain’s mother decides that she wants to end her life. Although he is initially sceptical, Alain decides to support her decision to end her life and travels with her to Switzerland, where their extremely tumultuous relationship is restored on her deathbed.
'Is it too easy to die in Canada?' by The Fifth Estate
The Fifth Estate (CBC News), Gillian Findlay
This documentary explores medical assistance in dying (MAID) in Canada as Parliament prepares to remove the exclusion in the law that does not allow people to access MAID if their sole criteria for access is a mental illness. The documentary takes a critical stance, introducing viewers to instances where MAID was seemingly approved for non-medical reasons or in reaction to mental health crises.
'GOTT. Ein Theaterstück' by Ferdinand von Schirach
Ferdinand von Schirach
After the death of his wife, 78-year-old Richard Gärtner wants to end his life by assisted suicide, although he is in perfect health. In the form of a meeting of the German Ethics Council, the play questions whether it is ethically justifiable for a doctor to help a healthy person take their own life and lets the audience vote on it.
'The Easy Way Out' by Steven Amsterdam
Steven Amsterdam
Written by a writer who is also a palliative care nurse, this tragicomic novel examines what life might be like for someone working as a dying assistant if Australia legalised assisted dying. It was published in 2016, just as Australia was beginning to seriously consider legalisation at both the state and federal level.
'Fade to Black' by Jeremy Ervine
Jeremy Ervine (dir.)
After learning that his oesophageal cancer has spread to his lungs, petrol station chain CEO Peter Short becomes the face of an Australian Senate assisted dying bill. This crowd-funded documentary recounts his political campaign, and his (unassisted) death, featuring interviews from Short’s family alongside ones from politicians and activists from both sides of the Australian right-to-die debate.
Forthcoming 'Miele'
Valeria Golino (Director), Valia Santella (Writer)
In Valeria Golino’s ‘Miele’, Irene illegally assists in the deaths of terminally ill individuals. Her understanding of her work is challenged, however, when she meets Carlo who wishes to die but is physically healthy. The film is more interested in Irene’s internal conflict than in advancing a position for or against assisted dying, yet it nonetheless explores various opinions and experiences.
Forthcoming 'Winter in Gloster Huis'
Vonne van der Meer
In 2024, the Done with Life Act (Klaar-met-leven-wet) is passed in the Netherlands, allowing people who consider their lives complete to receive assisted suicide. Two brothers receive a huge inheritance. One brother starts a farewell hotel, which facilitates a self-chosen death; the other brother starts an extended-stay hotel, where people are surrounded by care and attention until they die.
'Liebe bis in den Tod' by Barbara Bronnen
Barbara Bronnen
Emmanuel and Käthe Forster have been married for decades when Käthe asks her husband to help her die because she can no longer bear her life due to various diseases. Forster kills her with a shot to the head, but cannot bring himself to take his own life afterwards as planned. He has to stand trial for manslaughter, but Judge Joos releases him with a lenient sentence.
'A Message to the Standing Committee on Justice and Solicitor General' by Sue Rodriguez
Sue Rodriguez
In this videotaped address to Parliament, Sue Rodriguez, who was dying of ALS and wanted an assisted death, asks ‘If I cannot give consent to my own death […] who owns my life?’ While the Supreme Court of Canada heard her case in 1993 and ultimately decided against her, the publicization of Rodriguez’s story informed much public thinking about assisted dying laws in Canada.
'SuissID' by Vincent Gerber
Vincent Gerber
Set in Switzerland, in an unspecified future, the company SuissID is active in the field of assisted suicide. Despite a veneer of customer service, the only thing that counts for them is financial success; due care criteria and the protection of life no longer play a role in this dystopian society.
'Plan 75' by Chie Hayakawa
Chie Hayakawa (director and writer), Jason Grey (writer)
In a dystopian scenario, the Japanese government initiates Plan 75, and all citizens over 75 are given the option to be euthanized in exchange for 100’000 Yen to alleviate the socio-economic burden from an ageing population. The film follows elders and administrators of Plan 75 as they go through the steps of offering and accepting the plan.
'Griefwalker' by Tim Wilson
Tim Wilson
Griefwalker profiles Stephen Jenkinson as he leads a palliative care counselling team at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital. The film is a meditation on grief, the fear of death, and the failure of palliative care to address this fear as patients near death.
'In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss' by Amy Bloom
Amy Bloom
In her memoir In Love, Amy Bloom recounts the story of her husband’s death at Dignitas, an accompanied suicide organization in Switzerland, after his diagnosis with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Woven into Amy’s account of Brian’s illness and death are poignant and darkly funny vignettes of their marriage, and of Amy’s struggle to fulfil Brian’s request for an assisted death.
'Exit' by Benjamin Kempf
Benjamin Kempf (director) and Jann Preuss (writer)
Erika who suffers from cancer and her healthy husband Ruedi wish to die together by assisted suicide. When the lethal drug is ready, Ruedi is overcome with doubt, and the two argue. Ruedi ultimately drinks the deadly substance as well and lies down in bed with his wife. This short film, the first to explore double suicide in organised assisted suicide in Switzerland, is highly ambivalent.
'Ma dernière liberté: Journal d’une mort décidée' by Jean-Marie Lorand
Jean-Marie Lorand
This text is a published version of the diary kept by former journalist and parliamentary aide, turned assisted dying activist, Jean-Marie Lorand during the last months of his life. Lorand was an influential figure in public debate and his testimony was shared during the hearings in the Belgian Senate prior to the introduction of the country’s Act on Euthanasia (2002).
'Obituary' by Sathya Dhara Kovac
Sathya Dhara Kovac
In this self-written obituary to her loved ones, Sathya Kovac condemns the societal structures that led to her death by medical assistance in dying on October 3, 2022, at the age of 44. Sathya points not to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as the cause of her death, but rather the lack of supports and services that would have promoted her independence and quality of life.
'Intouchables' by Olivier Nakache
Olivier Nakache (director and writer), Éric Toledano (director and writer), Philippe Pozzo di Borgo (writer)
Based on a true story, this film recounts the unlikely friendship between Philippe, a very wealthy, widowed quadriplegic, and his hired caregiver Driss, a young man living in Paris’ poorer suburbs. As they get to know and come to trust one another, each shows the other something of his way of life, rekindling in the process his respective sense of purpose and joie de vivre.
'How To Die: Simon's Choice' by Rowan Deacon
Rowan Deacon (director)
This primetime television documentary follows UK resident Simon Binner, diagnosed with an aggressive form of motor neurone disease (also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), as he and those around him deal with his swiftly progressive illness and his decision to end his life through an assisted death in Switzerland.
'Les Invasions barbares' by Denys Arcand
Denys Arcand (director and writer)
In the absence of adequate palliative pain relief and palliative care provision, Rémy begins taking heroin to combat his cancer-induced suffering. As his condition deteriorates, he decides that he wants to end his life. With the help of his family and friends, he is given an overdose of heroin and passes away peacefully with his family around him.
'Better Off Dead?' by Liz Carr and James Routh
Liz Carr (writer/presenter), James Routh (director)
This BBC documentary follows actor and disability campaigner Liz Carr as she explores reasons why assisted dying, which she calls assisted suicide, should not be legalised in the UK. It is unusual both for constituting a mainstream programme that openly opposes legalisation of assisted dying, and for doing so using humour.
'Amour' by Michael Haneke
Michael Haneke (director and writer)
Diagnosed with a severe, neurodegenerative condition, Anne steadily declines into a state near paralyses, leaving her entirely dependent on her husband, Georges, and the nurses he employs. Following ever-increasing pressures on Georges, he makes the snap decision to suffocate his wife, in what is presented as a mercy killing, calling us to question the definition of an assisted death.
'Le tout dernier été' by Anne Bert
Anne Bert
French author Anne Bert sees the right to choose her own time of death as a fundamental human right, and this is her story of invoking that right by travelling from France to Belgium to receive an assisted death.
'A Good Death' by Jason Warick
Jason Warick; CBC News
A Good Death is a profile of Saskatoon artist Jeanette Lodoen before, during, and after her death by medical assistance in dying. She granted CBC News unrestricted access to herself and her family in her final days because she wanted to share what an assisted death is like with families, health professionals, and lawmakers.
‘This is Assisted Dying: A Doctor’s Story of Empowering Patients at the End of Life’ by Stefanie…
Stefanie Green, MD
In this memoir, Dr. Stefanie Green chronicles her first year providing medical assistance in dying (MAID) immediately following the procedure’s legalization in 2016. Dr. Green is one of Canada’s leading MAID providers and is the founding president of the Canadian Association of MAID Assessors and Providers.
'Video Statement' by Sophia
Sophia (pseudonym)
In this video statement, Sophia describes her struggle to find suitable housing for her multiple chemical sensitivities shortly before her medically assisted death. The video became a touchstone in disability rights discourse for activists arguing that Canada’s medical assistance in dying regime lacks sufficient safeguards to protect vulnerable people.
'Schlemm' by Nicola Bardola
Nicola Bardola
The elderly spouses Paul and Franca Salamun have decided to die together with the help of an assisted dying organisation. Paul suffers from bladder cancer, Franca is tired of living and does not want to stay behind without her husband. Although their son Luca can understand the decision, it is difficult for him to find a way to emotionally process her death.
'Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die' by Charlie Russell
Charlie Russell (director), Terry Pratchett (writer)
After being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, renown author Terry Pratchett investigates in a television documentary the only assisted death option available to residents of the United Kingdom: travelling to Switzerland to seek the option through Dignitas.