Assisted Lab

'Ik omhels je met duizend armen' by Ronald Giphart The novel presents an ambivalent perspective on autonomy and dependency, but ultimately offers a distinctly positive view of assisted dying.

Novel 'Ik omhels je met duizend armen' by @ronaldgiphart.bsky.social of @detaalstaat.bsky.social discusses euthanasia in the Netherlands when there was no law, but doctors could perform it without risking prosecution.

Analysis by Wouter Schrover for Assisted Lab👇

assistedlab.ch/textual/ik-o...

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3/3 If you happen to be in Bielefeld, join us. I'm looking forward to meeting & dialoguing with other researchers doing transdisciplinary work in Medical Humanities❗

👉 For more info on Assisted Lab: assistedlab.ch

Carlos Pittella, Assisted Lab Expiring visas: Outlining the right to die through bordercrossing narratives in Spanish and Portuguese Do we need a visa to die? How to get one? What if it expires before we do? From ancient mythologies to Hollywood, the process of dying has been narrated as a migration with checkpoints—to the underworld, to heaven, through cycles, rivers, tunnels... Contemporary representations of assisted dying contend with that bordercrossing in symbolic and pragmatic ways; agency over death may be granted here, but unthinkable there. For example, in José Saramago’s 2005 novel 'As intermitências da morte', suddenly, within the limits of one country, people can no longer die; the questions then converge towards the border, to who is willing to cross it, and the consequences of crossing it. This workshop will invite participants to reimagine the bureaucratic borders of assisted dying, inspired by cultural objects from Latin America and the Iberian peninsula reviewed in Assisted Lab’s Living Archive of Assisted Dying. We will approach the narratives constructed by these multimedia objects (novels, featured films, memoirs, blogs) as a means to unpack the complexity of the assisted dying debate. Throughout the workshop, we will collectively map values, expectations, and trade-offs involved in such bordercrossings, challenged by the dilemmas of those who decide to migrate to die (e.g. Tomás González’s 2011 novel La luz difícil, Gina Montaner’s 2024 memoir Deséenme un buen viaje), as well as how differently those decisions reverberate through borders (e.g. Leo Zelig’s 2016 film Translúcido) or across media (e.g. Ana Estrada’s 2019–2024 blog)...

2/3 I'm thrilled to share some insights at Bielefeld University on Mar/6, during the MED METHODS event, dedicated to Experimental Research.

ℹ️ My intervention is titled: «Expiring visas: Outlining the right to die through bordercrossing narratives in Spanish and Portuguese.»

Here's my abstract.

Slide from Carlos A. Pittella's workshop «Expiring visas: Outlining the right to die through bordercrossing narratives in Spanish and Portuguese,» prepared for the MED METHODS at Bielefeld University, March 6, 2026. The slide displays a border guard officer inspecting someone's passport, while a hand is being fingerprinted, and a camera visible. Four arrows show keywords around the scene: VALUES, EXPECTATIONS, TRADE-OFFS, and NARRATIVE AGENCY.

1/3 Since 2024, I have collaborated with @assistedlab.bsky.social to research cultural objects that have influenced the legal debate on MAiD.

💡 As my work has been haunted by borders & bureaucracies, I became interested in how MAiD is often framed as a bordercrossing that requires a visa.

'Translúcido' by Leonard Zelig The film follows the last day of Rubén, an Ecuadorian immigrant living in NYC, who decides to forgo cancer treatment and end his life by midnight.

'Translúcido' follows the last day of Rubén, an Ecuadorian immigrant in NYC who decided to forgo cancer treatment & end his life.

An ECU/VEN/USA co-production, the film has reverberated differently in the 3 countries.

I've written for @assistedlab.bsky.social about the film & its repercussions.

'Tot altijd' by Nic Balthazar Feature film based on the real life of the Belgian activist Mario Verstraete.

New in our archive! Tot altijd, a film by Nic Balthazar, tells the story of Mario Verstraete, a patient with multiple sclerosis who wanted the legalization of assisted dying in Belgium. On the film, its critcism and praise see the analysis by Wouter Schrover👇

assistedlab.ch/visual/tot-a...

Assistedlab.ch–A Living Archive of Assisted Dying A thoughtful review of a Swiss-based digital archive examining cultural dimensions of assisted dying debates.

Thank you Jacalyn Duffin @drugshortage.bsky.social for this generous and thoughtful review of our archive 😍

medhum.org/review/jacal...

'As intermitências da morte' by José Saramago This allegorical novel explores the economic, political, religious, and ethical questions that would be raised if, suddenly, people stopped dying.

‘As intermitências da morte’ by José Saramago explores the economic, political, & ethical questions raised if, suddenly, people stopped dying. To see how it has been cited in debates on the legalization of assisted dying see 👇

Analysis by @pittella.bsky.social

assistedlab.ch/textual/as-i...

'Esther's Story' by Julia Sartorio This short documentary segment follows assisted dying campaigner and cancer patient Esther Richards in the days before her assisted death.

Broadcast on TVNZ ‘Sunday’ programme in 2022, this short doc follows assisted dying campaigner and cancer patient Esther Richards in the days before her assisted death. It hints at the challenges of Esther’s decision but predominantly publicises the new right to die.

assistedlab.ch/visual/esthe...

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Now that @governor.ny.gov has signed New York’s Medical Aid in Dying Act, reposting here some entries from our archive on the films, books, and other media that have influenced conversations in the US 👇

assistedlab.ch/search?q=uni...

'Epilogue' by Manno Lanssens Through its intimate portrayal of how Neel and her family coped with her decision, ‘Epilogue’ encourages viewers to see euthanasia as a way to maintain dignity and comfort in one’s final moments.

2011 documentary ‘Epilogue’ by Manno Lanssens follows the last months of Neel Couwel’s life who decided to end her life through legal euthanasia in Belgium.

For an analysis by Sophia H. Rüfer see 👇

assistedlab.ch/visual/epilo...

'Los' by Tom Naegels Tom Naegels's novel provides a critical reflection of the criteria outlined in Belgian euthanasia law.

The novel Los, by Tom Naegels, provides a critical reflection of the criteria outlined in Belgium's euthanasia law.

Analysis by Wouter Schrover 👇

assistedlab.ch/textual/los-...

'Cartas desde el infierno' by Ramón Sampedro A collection of letters, poems, and essays, Sampedro’s memoir constitutes a philosophical treatise on the ethics of euthanasia.

The story of Ramón Sampedro influenced the legalization of assisted dying in Spain and elsewhere.

But beyond Alejandro Amenábar's film Mar Adentro with Javier Bardem, there's also Sampedro’s own book 'Cartas desde el infierno'

Analysis by @pittella.bsky.social 👇

assistedlab.ch/textual/cart...

SFAP – Société Française d’Accompagnement et de soins Palliatifs Bienvenue sur le site officiel. La SFAP fédère plus de 10 000 soignants et 6 000 bénévoles d'accompagnement en soins palliatifs.

📣 Podcast 📣 Balado 📣

Assisted Lab's Jordan McCullough met Claire Fourcade @clairefourcade3, palliative care doctor & head of advocacy department of SFAP (www.sfap.org)

To listen to their discussion on palliative care and assisted dying in France (en français) 👇

assistedlab.ch/podcasts

'When My Doctor Offered to Help Me Take My Life' by Bill Gardner Drawing on his background as a mental health services researcher, Bill criticizes Canada’s approach to medical assistance in dying as contrary to efforts to prevent suicide.

New entry from Canada on 'When My Doctor Offered to Help Me Take My Life' by @billgardner.bsky.social, one of his essays from 'I have Serious News'

Analysis by Robyn Otto 👇

assistedlab.ch/textual/when...

'Chronique d’une mort décidée' by Vincent Fooij

This documentary by Vincent Fooij, about the last months of right to die activist Jean-Marie Lorand, was an important reference as Belgium legalized euthanasia in 2002

Analysis by Jordan McCullough

assistedlab.ch/visual/chron...

Dr. Jessica Young on assisted dying, the New Zealand End of Life Choice Bill, culturally responsive research, end of life care and decision making, and sociological approaches

You might also enjoy our latest episode with Dr Jessica Young

open.spotify.com/episode/3wD4...

'De Goede Dood' by Wannie de Wijn When Bernard, who suffers from lung cancer, chooses to have an assisted death, his decision exacerbates tensions within his family, who gather on his final day.

New entry in our archive from the Netherlands!

De Goede Dood (A Good Death) by Wannie de Wijn portrays a range of human responses to assisted death, exploring grief and inviting audiences to reflect on the process.

Analysis by Sofia Rüfer 👇

assistedlab.ch/visual/de-go...

The Kessler Twins sisters Alice and Ellen die together aged 89 German pop duo who last year said their wish was ‘to leave together’ had joint assisted death at their home in Grünwald

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...

“We were feminists, but without thinking about it: from the age of 15, we started earning our own living. We’ve always been independent. Perhaps, in the end, we became a little dependent on each other.”

'Gina' by Wendell Cooke and Jeremy Macey This short film Gina, by Wendell Cooke and Jeremy Macey, has been mentioned in New Zealand & Queensland parliaments and gained over 100,000 views before assisted dying was legalised in New Zealand.

📣New entry from Aotearoa/New Zealand 📣

This short film Gina, by Wendell Cooke and Jeremy Macey, has been mentioned in New Zealand & Queensland parliaments and gained over 100,000 views before assisted dying was legalised there in 2021.

assistedlab.ch/visual/gina

A Good Death Art Competition — Isenberg Lab

Very much looking forward to seeing this exhibit in Ottawa at the OAG curated by the incredible Isenberg Lab

@sarinaisenberg.bsky.social @uottawa.ca @ottawaartgallery.bsky.social

www.isenberglab.com/a-good-death...

'The Leave-Taking' by Ruth Steinberg

New entry from Canada, on Ruth Steinberg's photographs of her friend Alma Norman, in the last months before her assisted death. The photos were exhibited in Ottawa City Hall in 2023.

assistedlab.ch/visual/the-l...

Multilingual, Transnational and Translational: Rethinking the Medical Humanities Charles Forsdick concludes the Reading Bodies takeover and discusses how this project on historical discourses of illness in European literatures and cultures contributes to rethinking the medical …

@cforsdick.bsky.social concludes the @readingbodies.bsky.social takeover and discusses how this project contributes to rethinking the medical humanities in ways that are simultaneously multilingual, transnational and translational.
thepolyphony.org/2025/10/24/m...

'Het refrein is Hein. Dagen uit een verpleeghuis' by Bert Keizer Het refrein is Hein, a book by Bert Keizer, provides an unvarnished look at ageing and suffering, and invites the reader to reflect on ethical dilemmas such as that of assisted dying.

📣New Dutch Entry in our Archive 📣

Published in 1994, 'Het refrein is Hein', a book by Bert Keizer, became a best-seller and paved the way for a more open discussion about assisted dying in the Netherlands.

Analysis by Sophia Rüfer

assistedlab.ch/textual/het-...

Uruguay vota la primera ley de eutanasia de América Latina: “Lucho por el derecho de todos a elegir” Una mayoría progresista se dispone a aprobar este miércoles la norma en el Senado

🇺🇾 “Hasta que no estén las manos levantadas no está aprobado”, dice Florencia Salgueiro, que desde 2021 es uno de los rostros más conocidos entre quienes defienden la legalización de la eutanasia en Uruguay dozz.es/fkls86

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Please repost friends at @unisg.ch @UZH_ch @uzh-ch.bsky.social @utoronto.ca @stanforduniversity.bsky.social @unil.bsky.social @mcgill.ca! 🙏

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: 'The Sarco Question: Can Technology Replace Doctors in Assisted Dying?'. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. About This webinar is jointly organised by the Forum for Global Health Ethics, Assisted Lab (University of St Gallen), and the Competence Center Medicine, Ethics, Law Helvetiae (MERH), University of ...

Event ‘The Sarco Question: Can Technology Replace Doctors in Assisted Dying?’ featuring @marcakeller.bsky.social & Anna Elsner on 22 Oct in Zurich. On tech, institutions & assisted dying.

Register to attend online 👇https://uzh.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bD8r9neUSLeqttLlJEVfWQ#/registration

‘Her death was tranquil’: why Eve is urging Victorian MPs to make access to voluntary assisted dying easier Eve’s mother saw VAD as a way to reclaim bodily autonomy and dignity, but gaining approval to use the scheme took nine ‘traumatic’ weeks * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Eve Crotty describes her mum Marion’s death as peaceful and painless. They were on the couch in their family home, Crotty on one side, her dad on the other, singing Sex on Fire by Kings of Leon. It was a running joke in the family – when Crotty was little, she thought the lyrics were “socks on fire”. “No teenager should ever have to lose a parent. It was an extremely sad moment that will live with me forever, but her death was tranquil,” Crotty, now 21, says. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...

‘Her death was tranquil’: why Eve is urging Victorian MPs to make access to voluntary assisted dying easier

'Une autre histoire' by Chantal Cadieux In this TV series, Anémone Leduc is forced to reckon with her past because of a diagnosis of hereditary early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

TV Series 'Une autre histoire' by Chantal Cadieux aired in Québec in 2019, & deals with early onset Alzheimer’s disease & decision-making capacity. As of 2024 Québec allows advance requests for MAID under certain conditions

Analysis by Robyn Otto 👇

assistedlab.ch/visual/une-a...