How to Die in Oregon opens in Roger Sagner’s living room. He is surrounded by family and friends as he prepares to down the lethal drink that will end his life. Thanks to Oregon’s death with dignity law, Roger and other terminally ill patients can choose when to die. Ironically, enough being able to choose when to die, allows terminally ill patients to truly live in their last few months. Multiple people speak to how knowing they will have the choice to end their lives on their terms has given them piece of mind.
One of these patients is Cody Curtis who has been diagnosed with recurrence of liver cancer. She has been given six months to live and has chosen a proposed death date. However, when that date comes, she is feeling good so she chooses to wait. With palliative care and pain management, she ends up living almost seven months more. These months are filled with joyous and love filled moments with her family and friends. When she finally makes the decision to end her life, she is surrounded by her family.
I was surprised by how joyous this movie about death with dignity was. Even though the stories of terminally ill patients were sad, the undercurrent was of choice and people who were calmed by the knowledge that they had the right to choose when to die.