Me Before Euthanasia by Kimi Warren (1st installment)

The book and movie, Me Before You, is not a typical chick flick or romantic movie. This story follows a girl who fills the role as a sitter for a rich family to care for their 28 year old son who is paralyzed from the neck down, a quadriplegic. The male character, Will Traynor, at first is extremely bitter, but the main character slowly melts away his brutish exterior. He gains purpose in his life by responding to the care given to him by Louisa; however, the physical therapist and nurse tech tells Louisa that she cannot fix his health problem and that he still wakes in the middle of the night screaming, hating his life situation. Will Traynor still plans on taking the route of euthanasia through a clinic in Switzerland to end his life suffering, as he is no longer the man he used to be. This saddens Louisa greatly, as she has become truly emotionally invested in the quadriplegic man. She takes him on an amazing adventure to a tropical island in an attempt to change his mind. Despite the two falling in love, this only solidifies his decision to commit euthanasia because he cannot be what he wants to be for Louisa. This story emotionally pulls on the hearts of the audience by presenting very deep questions: what would you do if you were Will, what if you were Louisa, what if he were your patient?

According to the US News Health, on average staying in a full care nursing home in a semi-private room costs $82,000 per year. This is an immense financial burden on the individual staying in the nursing home as well as the family care providers. The semi-private can also cause added stresses on the individual in the situation beyond just the health issues. While home health, as seen in Me Before You, is possible and can help relieve some of the stresses, this is also an enormous financial burden to manage. In the case of a young quadriplegic, there is also the worry of loss of purpose, again featured in the movie/book, which is extremely damaging to an individual's sense of self. While some may have the ability to move on from that kind of scenario, others may not be able to. The water that softens a potato hardens an egg.

I personally find the characters in this story captivating and the romanticized versions of every day people. The use of the bubbly personality of Louisa and the cold but approachable disposition of Will bring the audience into the personal relationships of the characters lives. In this sense, the story has a way of bringing euthanasia closer to home, rather than just a typical classroom debate where one is removed greatly from the subject itself. I personally felt very connected to the story plot and the characters within it, and this gave new life and added empathy for the individuals I may encounter on my journey as a healthcare provider. Not to the extent that Louisa gave, but a reminder to think of patients as individuals rather than just a number to chart on.

Quiz:

–           What is the average cost of living in a rehabilitation facility?

–           What did Will choose to do?

–           What was the reason he made his decision?

–           T/F The option for euthanasia is readily available in all countries.

-        T/F As a caretaker, it is your role to respect  the decisions of the patient.

Discussion Questions:

–           What would you do if you were in Will’s shoes?

–           What would you do if you were in Louisa’s shoes?

–           Would you ever consider being a healthcare clinic provider for euthanasia?

–           Would this situation be the same if occurring in a different society, other than 1^st world countries?

–           How would this situation be different if set in a different time period?

–           Why do we feel the value of life is decreased so dramatically as soon as we become dependent? What does this say about our culture?