Euthanasia from a doctor's perspective
A television documentary by Juul Bovenberg for VPRO television.
Juul Bovenberg, director of Nestblijvers among others, explores the emotional side of three general practitioners regarding the administration of euthanasia to one of their patients in her new film Dodelijk Dilemma: Euthanasia from a Doctor's Perspective.
In Deadly Dilemma, three general practitioners are followed during the lead-up to and aftermath of administering euthanasia to one of their patients. The film explores the paradox as doctors often view euthanasia; they rationally believe it should be permissible, yet they feel resistance because killing someone is unnatural. During training, a doctor learns to heal people, not to kill them. Euthanasia confronts doctors with their own emotions, beliefs, and views on life and death.
Assessment criteria such as quality of life and unbearable suffering prove to be flexible concepts in practice. Who determines when the limit of an acceptable life has been reached?
The viewer witnesses the inner world of the doctors: their reflections, loneliness, fear, dilemmas, rituals, and emotions during this period. The euthanasia itself remains off-screen. How do doctors feel emotionally about euthanasia? What impact does it have on their private lives? And does the doctor go through a grieving process after the patient's death?
Broadcast by VPRO on: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 22:50 Holland Doc, Ned 2
The producers of Deadly Dilemma: Euthanasia from a Doctor's Perspective are Paul Ruven and Ren Huybrechtse for Talent United, and it is a co-production with the VPRO and co-financed by the Mediafonds.
For more press information:
Yvonne Bruynen Talent United
EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]
van Hallstraat 52, 1051 HH, Amsterdam
Phone: 020-6881843
Producer websites:
www.talentunited.nl
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end of press release
2009 Talent United BV
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