This moving documentary follows the efforts of a man who dedicated his final months to lobbying for voluntary euthanasia to be legalised.
Peter Short, a corporate CEO, had beaten oesophageal cancer once, but when it returned five years later, and was diagnosed as terminal, Short decided he wanted a "magnificent ending" to his life, "because I've had a magnificent life, and I don't want to drip out at the end of a morphine tube".
Peter Short decided he wanted a “magnificent ending” to his life.
Fearing the kind of protracted death that many with terminal illnesses face in hospital wards, Short – who had never been involved in this kind of campaign before – sought out Dr Rodney Syme, the vice-president of Dying With Dignity Victoria, who would (illegally) supply him with the lethal drug Nembutal, should he wish to take that path. Then, when he was inundated with support after The Age published a letter Short wrote about his situation, he began his advocacy in earnest, his plight eventually inspiring the dying with dignity legislation in the Federal Parliament.
This film – partially funded by Short – follows Short and his wife Elizabeth and son Mitchell, from his diagnosis through to the end. We see Short joking with his employees, working on charity campaigns, and then dedicating the bulk of his final months to campaigning in the media, meeting with politicians and hassling then prime minister Tony Abbott (the doco was filmed in 2014). Abbott finally called him back – just days before his death – and pledged his MPs would be given a free vote should the bill reach the floor of Parliament.
But it was Short's early meetings with federal Greens senator Richard Di Natale that made the most impact – three years on, Di Natale introduced the draft legislation that would eventually be passed in Victoria.
As well as interviews with advocate Dr Philip Nitschke and TV personality-turned euthanasia proponent Andrew Denton, we hear from opponents of euthanasia – and interestingly more than one of those putting forth faith-based arguments during the Senate inquiry are more emotional and more lacking in hard research.
Short – with Denton and Syme – makes no secret of his feelings for those who use religion as a way to block euthanasia. "The more reasonable response is couched in our national anthem – 'Australians all let us rejoice for we are young and free'. We're not free under current law when it comes to choice at end of life for terminally ill, partly due to religious dogma."
He finds it "intolerable" that anyone would use religion to look him in the eye and say, "Peter, we insist that you, with your terminal illness and suffering, live your life to the natural end no matter what – it's unacceptable."
As Short's body begins to fail, and the inevitable approaches, we, along with him and his family, can better appreciate the complexity of dying; this film may not end the way you anticipate it. A bit like the entire journey – a film about dying, as Fade To Black illustrates, needn't necessarily be depressing, and this engaging doco has moments of humour, optimism and great hope. KN
Fade to Black: Fight to the Death is on SBS Viceland, Thursday, 9pm.
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