Death is a subject many people in our culture avoid. It happens every day, but we rarely see it, because it is accompanied by harsh realities. To aid in this pursuit, End of Life Options New Mexico (EOLONM) will be showing death related films in honor of Day of the Dead, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, November 2, at the Silco Theater, 311 N. Bullard St., Silver City. Viewing is free and suggested for those over 14.
The EOLONM volunteer team is presenting this education event aimed at building awareness about advance healthcare planning and end of life options care for all New Mexicans. The non-profit organization was established in 2021 with a mission to provide information and support for all end-of-life care options, including medical aid in dying.
Scott Plate, EOLONM volunteer, was formerly a professional actor, director and theater educator, and is now a certified life coach and death doula. “Death is common to all of us, so it makes sense to share the experience by talking about it,” he said. “These films give us a place to start the conversation.”
The scheduled films (subject to change without notice) with discussions are:
10 a.m. - How to Die in Oregon, 2011
This documentary explores real life responses to Oregon's "Death with Dignity Act," the first law in the U.S. to allow physicians to prescribe lethal doses of drugs to the terminally ill. A middle-aged woman with terminal liver cancer prepares to take her own life, while another cancer patient decides to suffer through his illness even though death is just as certain for him. Others grapple with choosing their own course of action, and one man decides to hold a "death party." NOT RATED
12 p.m. - Dying Wish, 2008
The story of Michael Miller, 80-year-old retired surgeon, with end-stage pancreatic cancer who chose to stop eating and drinking to hasten and ease his death. NOT RATED
How I Made Friends with Reality, 2018
With her signature wit and wisdom, Emily Levine meets her ultimate challenge as a comedian/philosopher: she makes dying funny. In this personal talk, she takes us on her journey to make friends with reality. NOT RATED
1 p.m. - When My Time Comes, 2021
Spurred on by the death of her husband, Diane Rehm crosses the country to take an in-depth look at medical aid in dying. She speaks to people on all sides of the issue, uncovering the pros and cons, and the facts and the myths surrounding this controversial practice. RATED TV-14
2 p.m. - Jack Has a Plan, 2022
When Jack, a man with a terminal brain tumor, decides to end his life, his family and friends struggle to accept his decision. Jack's best friend documents his three-year quest to die a happy man. NOT RATED
The Silco Theater Concession Stand will be open during the screenings for film-goers as well as the general public on Bullard Street. The documentaries will end before the Day of the Dead parade begins at 3:30 p.m. on College Avenue.
In addition, EOLONM volunteer, artist, and retired hospice nurse Sally Tilton will be creating an ofrenda for the Silco lobby. Nearly 700 New Mexicans have used MAID since June of 2021. The ofrenda features nearly 50 points of light, one for each courageous patient in the southwest part of the state who has taken the courageous step of stopping their intolerable pain or air hunger using MAID.
End of Life Options NM sprang from the 25-year struggle to pass a law allowing medical aid in dying (MAID). New Mexico is the eleventh jurisdiction to legalize death with dignity using prescribed medication by the terminally ill. If a patient is deemed by a physician to likely have less than six months to live, they are eligible to use MAID if they are over 18, decisionally capable, able to self-administer the drug, and have a New Mexico address.
To learn more about End of Life Options New Mexico visit www.endoflifeoptionsnm.org
