End-of-life decisions and ethics on the big screen: reflecting narratives of ‘a life fully lived’

The question of what constitutes a good life, whether a human existence is considered fulfilling and how to respond to a life perceived as no longer worth living has long been one of the great inquiries of medical ethics. With the increasing liberalization of various forms of assisted dying worldwide, these fundamental questions are gaining renewed relevance. An emerging field of interest explores films as sociocultural laboratories, offering an intriguing approach to a more nuanced perspective on personal narratives. Applied to the subject of end-of-life decisions this practice turns abstract constructs such as the quest for a meaningful life into tangible plotlines and vivid case studies. Far more than conceptual discussions about morally right or wrong, the storyline on screen enables the viewer to gain a deep and unique insight into the personal life and contextual embeddedness of protagonists struggling with end-of-life decisions. This paper aims to explore the idea and narrative of 'a life fully lived' in the movies focussing on end-of-life decisions. It focuses on the implications, demands, and influences on choices concerning death and dying using the example of ten of the most impactful and most debated movies featuring end-of-life decisions. Using film analysis, commonly held assumptions and value judgments that influence public discourse about end-of-life decisions are to be revealed and made accessible for ethical reflection.