Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die Part 1

http://vimeo.com/25239708

In a frank and personal documentary, award-winning author Sir Terry Pratchett takes a look at one of society's most difficult subjects -- assisted death.Sir Terry, who has the early onset of Alzheimer's disease, has considered taking his own life once the condition becomes too much for him to bear. So he meets three men with degenerative conditions, all of whom have been faced with the same difficult choices that Sir Terry must grapple with, as well as some of the families that have been left behind.Two British men have chosen different paths -- Mick (who has motor neurone disease) and Andrew (who has multiple sclerosis). While Mick has chosen to stay in the UK and opt for hospice care, Andrew has
turned to Dignitas, a not-for-profit organisation in Switzerland. Sir Terry finds out more about their decisions.In Switzerland he joins a British couple. Peter, who has motor neurone disease, has also chosen to end his life at the Dignitas clinic. Sir Terry witnesses the procedures set out for all visitors to Dignitas and, in an emotional sequence, he sits with Peter and his wife and witnesses Peter's final moments.And he meets the widow of Hugo Claus, a popular Belgian author who had Alzheimer's disease and chose an assisted death in 2008.Hugo's wife explains her husband's decision to Sir Terry.In Sir Terry's own words: "What you are about to watch may not be easy, but I believe it's important."

Category:

Education

Tags:

• terry pratchett
• choosing to die
• assisted suicide
• Euthanasia
• bbc
• documentary

[AngelEyesz89]

Youtube has blocked the final part (part 4) In the UK to watch this documentary in full link above....

[buzzNact]

I'm dyslexic so I find reading very hard. It was much harder when I was a child. I first heard about Terry Pratchett through a friend, so I got the audio books read by Tony Robinson which were really great. Despite the fact that the audio books were really enjoyable I always felt as though I was missing out a little. So despite my difficulties reading I started try to do it anyway. It's still hard today but I can do it. Thank you Terry for helping me to read. You'll be missed.

[polyglotology]

For people who have had experienced enough - say wealth, fame, fortune ... and/or suffering, such is another bold decision to be made - to leave the physical and further explore the great beyond ... Yes, let them go ...

[SkratchMyItch]

@twofatslugs Agreed.

[twofatslugs]

The simple end to this argument is this: No-one should have the right to choose when any of us die. No-one should have the right to say "No" to a simple biological request. Everyone dies in the end. Why should we be stopped if we wish to go earlier?

Death is a gift for some. Let them receive it on their own terms.

[4my2pitbullsluv]

its ok to uthenize our pets when we dont we dont want to see them suffer and yet its ok to see our loved ones suffer until their death. doesnt make sense. why cant the sufferer die with dignity on their own terms?

[buzzNact]

@Heva1987 Reading is great fun and now I read lots of other things simply because I enjoy to, although Terry Pratchett is a great place to start (and continue) reading. I had a great time reading Snuff just recently and Witches Aboard is defiantly a very good book (the entire "Witches" saga is very good). Reading will never be as easy for people like us as it is for our peers but trust me, the more you do read the easier reading becomes, and it is very, very worth while =).

[Heva1987]

@buzzNact I have the same problem. But i managed to read "Wyrd Sister" all by myself. I am planning to start on "Witches Aboard" next year. First adult book I have read..

[dalektaliban]

its fucking stupid how horses have to be killed for having a broken leg , but a man who is being tortured by cancer has to live to death by law, fucking disgraceful

[ceciliawaingei]

It takes a whole lot of pain, fear and sympathy to finish till part 4. =[

[ver4eto98]

oh god i admire this man so much this made me cry the minute i started watching his novels make me happy always have always will i hope he never has to suffer <3

[HTprods]

@buzzNact He hasn't died, thankfully, but he is considering assisted suicide.