‘How to die in Oregon’ by Peter Richardson

How to Die in Oregon introduces its audience to a series of individuals who for the most part have chosen to, or are considering, making use of the state’s Death With Dignity law. The documentary opens with footage of Roger Sagner, the 343rd person to make use of the law, in his final moments.  We see the minutes leading up to Roger’s death, and how, surrounded by friends and family, he is grateful for the option to die at a time of his choosing. Before drinking the medication that will kill him, Roger thanks his family and friends for being present, and thanks ‘the wisdom of the voters of the state of Oregon’ for legalizing assisted dying. His final words are, ‘it was easy folks, it was easy.’ In the rest of the documentary we meet many others including Sue Dessayer Porter, a volunteer for an advocacy group called Compassion and Choices whose members assist those who use the law, and some of the terminally ill individuals she is counselling and guiding through the process of choosing whether or not to have an assisted death. The majority of the documentary is devoted to the story of Cody Curtis who at 54 has been diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. We follow Cody, her family, and her doctor, as they try to enjoy their last years together while navigating the difficult decisions they must make with regards to Cody’s treatment. While Cody is grateful to have access to an assisted death, and expresses her relief at being able to live without the fear of losing her autonomy, she is also grieved to have to leave her family, and worried about deciding when to end her life. Through Cody’s story, the documentary demonstrates that the decision to choose one’s death is neither an easy one to make, nor one made lightly. The process of dying is, however, portrayed as peaceful and effortless. The film ends with Cody’s death, in the same way it opened with Roger’s, and she echoes him in her final moments saying, ‘this is so easy, I wish people knew how easy this was.’

Oregon was the first US state to legalize assisted dying. Enacted in 1997, Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act allows terminally ill adults to self-administer a lethal dose of medication prescribed by a physician. This documentary paints assisted dying in a largely positive light, only interviewing one individual, Randy Stroop, who is critical of Oregon’s law. Randy’s insurance has refused to pay for his cancer treatment, but offered instead to pay for palliative care including an assisted death, and Randy is understandably outraged. Randy is also the only underprivileged individual interviewed. The other stories focused on by the documentary are those of more or less affluent, white, non-disabled people. These stories are also, for the most part, those of people who, whether or not they ultimately chose or were able to have an assisted death, benefited from Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act by feeling they gained some control over how they would die. How to Die in Oregon won the 2011 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Award, and was praised by critics for its portrayal of personal stories. It obviously sides with proponents of the legalization of assisted dying in focusing on its positive aspects. At the same time, it goes to great lengths to portray the difficulties experienced by people in situations like Cody’s who must wrestle with incredibly challenging decisions. Cody repeatedly wonders if it is right to wish for control and autonomy, and to avoid suffering, and at times worries she is choosing an assisted death for the wrong reasons, or out of fear. Ultimately, though, the documentary makes the case that it is noble and courageous to accept the inevitability of death, and to wish to die while one is still oneself.