ErikaG451 I know it sounds corny to say "You must see this movie," but seriously, you must see it. Very thought-provoking and moving, no matter what side of the debate you're on. Makes you feel compassion for the patients, especially Cody, whose story runs throughout the film. I was pulling for her.It was well done. It's a documentary (I know I keep using the word "film") that will leave you speechless at the end. Beginning it with the case of a patient taking the pills has a jarring and disturbing effect. For another film that supports / compliments this issue see also HBO Films' "You Don't Know Jack." I also found it to be very thought-provoking, and makes you think about the patients, as well.

jozerd Overall, a great film with very emotionally powerful scenes. It is a clear pro-PAS film, but did present a small segment where a man fighting cancer was actually encouraged by his health insurance agency to seek PAS. What I took from the film was that there are certainly cases where PAS is appropriate, because in some situations suffering is unbearable. However, legalization of PAS is very scary to me, not only for the health insurance aspect... but the entire profit driven business enterprise that would result in legalization. Competing products? How much time before one can apply for PAS? (in a business sense, why reject any person who asks for assistance). Good mental health? I think the only way to go about doing it federally is a very strict case by case basis. I think everyone will have an opinion of this film, and what's great about it is that it forces you to weigh the pros and cons. Emotionally it takes you to a place where you feel like you're part of the family of a suffering terminally ill patient. I just wanted a little bit more arguments from physicians and those opposed to PAS.

Michael_Elliott How to Die in Oregon (2011) **** (out of 4) This emotionally draining documentary talks about the 1994 Death with Dignity law that was passed in Oregon, which allows people the choice to pick when they want to die. The documentary talks with several people who have decided to share their stories, which has most of them dealing with a terminal illness that has no cure. The question becomes if they want to spend the last few months of their lives in pain or if they would prefer to end their lives through physician-assisted suicide. The topic of this has been a hot debate item for a very long time but thankfully director Peter Richardson doesn't try to turn this film into some sort of political debate. I think the film is a very honest and open look at all sides of the debate but thankfully we never get to any childish bickering between the sides. I had read a few reviews of this film and it one said that you'd be crying within the first five minutes of the picture and there's no question that these opening moments are some of the hardest I've had to watch. We basically see a man surrounded by his family getting ready to die, which to me leads to some of the most honest moments where you the viewer have to ask yourself what you would do. What would you say to your loved ones in the final minutes of your life? Would there be a final word that you'd want to get out? We also follow another woman, Cody, who is suffering from cancer and she's given six months to life but keeps the pills it takes to end her life is she decides to. Her issue is not knowing when to say she's had enough or if she'll know the moment when she wants to die. We follow her as her case gets better but then takes a drastic and fast turn. We also see things from the other side, which is a man whose health insurance says they won't pay for him to try and fight for life yet they will pay for him to end his life. All of these stories are just emotionally draining and although this film is a masterpiece, it's easy to see why it's appeal would be quite limited. I can sit here and say that the people here are inspirational and I can say that the director handles everything with such dignity and class but in the end the viewer is really going to have to ask themselves if they want to sit through watching people die. As depressing as some of these stories are, at the same time they are quite uplifting seeing people appreciate the life they do have and the importance of having people you love around you. HOW TO DIE IN OREGON is a very powerful, extremely well-made picture that is certainly worth viewing if you can put up with the graphic drama.

Danny Blankenship Just watched this HBO documentary and I must say it opened up my eyes and even made me tear up a little bit. It's a fact of life everyone must face we will die and as shown many of us could be a terminal ill person like the folks portrayed in the film. Featuring real life cases in Oregon the first U.S. state to pass legalized physician assisted suicide in 1994 we see it's the best choice for many as it's better to go than suffer. Most eye opening is the case of liver cancer patient Cody Curtis a brave woman who fought to the end, but saw dying with dignity is best.One uplifting part of the film is seeing the 2008 passage of the death with dignity act in Washington state, as the families of those passed are still fighting for assisted death. Interviews with people and advocate groups and doctors were most touching as no matter what your stance on this issue you feel that people like Cody Curtis is a courageous person. Eye opening film that hurts you feel pain and sorrow for those who's life is cut by a terminal illness, yet you feel happy for their courageous work of doing something right when no other means of help will work. Sometimes you have to end it. Most of off you will feel happy to just be alive after watching this painful documentary.