'After' by Nikki Gemmell
Nikki Gemmell
This memoir by Nikki Gemmell explores her mother Elayn’s unexpected suicide in reaction to chronic pain and the subsequent fallout. Elayn was a member of Exit International and Gemmell’s high-profile story was part of the national conversation on legalising assisted dying in Australia.
'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.
'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.
'Del otro lado del jardín' by Carlos Framb
Carlos Framb
After assisting in his mother Luzmila Alzate’s death in 2007 and unsuccessfully attempting suicide, the poet Carlos Framb found himself accused of homicide. This memoir recounts Framb’s legal saga, his relationship with his mother, and defends the right-to-die in the context of Colombia, that had decriminalized euthanasia in 1997 but not yet created guidelines for assisted dying.
'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 Leonetti Law.
'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.
'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.
'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.
'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).
'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.
'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.
'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.
'Del otro lado del jardín' by Daniel Posada
Daniel Posada (director and screenwriter), Ignacio del Moral (screenwriter)
The poet Carlos Framb wakes in a hospital bed, handcuffed and accused of homicide. He had attempted suicide after assisting his mother Luzmila Alzate to die, which he claims was an act of love. Inspired by Framb’s 2009 memoir by the same title, but with notable differences, this 2024 film turns a real story into a courtroom drama about the individual rights to death and to abortion.
'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.
'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.
'Miele' by Valeria Golino
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.
'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.
'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.
'Un Beau Matin' by Mia Hansen-Løve
Mia Hansen-Løve
Sandra, a single mother of an eight-year-old daughter, accompanies her father through his care after being afflicted with a neurodegenerative disease. The film shows her father’s rapidly deteriorating state and the difficulties posed for the family as he ceases to recognize his family members or surroundings.
'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.