Health professionals are finding it increasingly difficult, and risky, to ignore a competent patient's request to end treatment. It is no longer possible to "err on the side of conservatism" and continue to treat even against the patient's and family's wishes. Some who have done so have faced charges of battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of fiduciary duty, and even conspiracy charges based on a violation of basic constitutional rights.

The Right to Die examines the legal, ethical, and emotional issues surrounding a patient's request to have his ventilator turned off and to be allowed to die. The story is told to a hospital ethics committee from three perspectives; the patient's physician, his spouse, and his primary nurse each provide a unique, personal view of the situation. The purpose of the film is to stimulate discussion of the dilemma; it does not argue for or against the appropriateness of such decisions and does not offer a model for health professional involvement. It does, however, highlight the issues and provide a structure within which to rationally discuss a difficult subject.

Color, 19 minutes, VHS
Includes 23-page Leader's Guide

Price : $195.00

Awards: CINE Golden Eagle;Chris, Columbus;2nd, AJN; Winner in Management/Staff Development, ASHET; Silver, BMA