MovieChat Forums > How to Die in Oregon Discussion > The 'facilitator' early in the film is d...

The 'facilitator' early in the film is disturbing.....

posted 11 years ago by SammyTerry
7 replies | jump to latest

She talks to each patient like they are chilren, has a "sing song" type of arrogance and almost ruins the whole point of the film. She reminds of Dr Steven Keily from Marcus Welby (and Millineium). What the way she speaks to everyone in such a pretentious was; watch how she bends over to put her face in the patients face. Something about her dosen't set right at all. And why is she so into helping people die? I have no problem with the general idea....your'e terribly, terminally sick and want to decide the hour of your own demise...I have no problem with that and it should be legal in all states...but not with some condescending, "death happy" wench leading the reigns.

"I don't care if he's been rogering the Duke of York with a prize winning leek!

[–] HeatherAgain 11 years ago

She hit me that way too. And I was disturbed when the guy drank the mixture and said in a howling way "It's (death) coming." like it was a ride he couldn't get off. What was he feeling physically? Extreme dizzyness, nausea - like OD'ing? He sounded afraid too even though his next sentence was "Folks, it was easy." Is a coma that nobody knows how long will last until systems shut down from starvation/dehydration the best that can be done? How do we know there is no pain? Isn't there a truly pain free, faster and more private way? like Hitler's cyanide, etc.

[–] HeywoodJablomy 10 years ago

Isn't there a truly pain free, faster and more private way? like Hitler's cyanide, etc.

Cyanide may be faster, but it's far from painless. Drifting off after barbiturate overdose seem much easier, IMO.

[–] peccadillo 10 years ago

Nothing about her struck me as off. In terms of being condescending, I think it's worth considering how painfully straightforward someone in her position has to be to avoid legal ramifications. The documentary The Suicide Tourist has a facilitator who speaks even more blatantly. You have to be extremely clear with the patient. Legal issues aside, a person's last minutes is not a good time for misunderstandings.

I imagine she's just trying her best to be emotionally present with them. I also think it's probably really hard to think of the right thing to say as someone is dying.

[–] velli10501 10 years ago

Cyanide delivers the most excruciating death! The coma that the pills provide does not last long at all. On the other hand, people who die "naturally" can begin dying before they are unconscious, and when their organs fail, they go into a coma that can lasts for days. During that time, in say a hospice setting, they will not be given food, and will be given ice chips only so as to not prolong suffering. Yes, they will have pain management, but can still have break-through pain they do feel.

The medicine patients take themselves legally under the Death with Dignity act takes effect in about 90 seconds, puts them right under, and then they die while not conscious of the process,without physical suffering. This legally prescribed medicine is also preferable to a patient dosing herself as she can get it wrong, use the wrong medication, aspirate on vomit and end up a vegetable.

Truly this is one of the easiest and quickest ways to die. That is why you heard at least two people in the documentary say "this is easy." Essentially, they just float pleasantly off as one does when given general anesthesia.

Finally, their death can be as private as they choose it to be. These folks allowed themselves to be filmed,although Cody was heard but not seen in her final moments. And they chose the people they wanted to be with them at the end.

[–] jrk2579 9 years ago

Just fyi, when he is saying "ah it's coming, ah it's coming" he is actually singing a song.

Old Black Joe1.
Gone are the days when my heart was young and gay,
Gone are my friends from the cotton fields away,
Gone from the earth to a better land I know,
I hear their gentle voices calling "Old Black Joe".
Chorus
I?m coming, I?m coming, for my head is bending low:
I hear those gentle voices calling, "Old Black Joe".

2.
Why do I weep when my heart should feel no pain
Why do I sigh that my friends come not again,
Grieving for forms now departed long ago.
I hear their gentle voices calling ?Old Black Joe?.
Chorus

3.
Where are the hearts once so happy and so free?
The children so dear that I held upon my knee,
Gone to the shore where my soul has longed to go.
I hear their gentle voices calling "Old Black Joe".
Chorus

[–] rufusshotgun 11 years ago

I can understand finding it odd but the way you talk about a person you don't know and who did no real harm is both kind of hilarious and a little weird. I mean, death happy wench? cmon man.

[–] SweetD19 9 years ago

So rude and condescending. I didn't get that vibe from her. Wench? Grow up.