Screenings of Thoughts on Medical Assisted Suicide

by Joan Cavanagh, Progressives Against Medical Assisted Suicide

Thoughts on Medical Assisted Suicide, a 36-minute film about this topic of ongoing public debate and controversy, is scheduled for screening at the Westville, Woodbridge, and West Haven Public Libraries in May and June. It considers the historical context, current practice, and impact on health care of enabling medical providers to offer lethal drugs to patients for the purpose of ending their own lives.

With poetry and song written and performed by a West Haven, CT-based poet, songwriter, and performance artist, Elaine Kolb, the film includes interviews with disability and social justice activists including Anita Cameron, Director of Community Outreach at Not Dead Yet; Jules Good, programs coordinator of the Autism Self Advocacy Network; Dr. Diane Meier, professor at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine; retired Connecticut disability rights attorney Nancy Alisberg; and five local New Haven community activists. They each discuss their personal and professional reasons for strong opposition to the practice.

Film showings:

Monday, May 19 at 6 p.m. at the Mitchell Library, 37 Harrison St., New Haven. Info: email Marian Huggins, [email protected].

Thursday, May 29 at 6 p.m. at the Woodbridge Town Library, 10 Newton Rd., Woodbridge. Info: email Donna Faryna, [email protected].

Saturday, June 28 at 2 p.m. at the West Haven Public Library, 300 Elm St., West Haven. Info: email Taylor Cordova, [email protected].

For an updated list of screenings as the summer continues, or to suggest a screening venue, please contact [email protected].