Turning the Tide, produced by the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition and Salt and Light television media foundation, was designed to change the way secular society perceives the issues of euthanasia and assisted suicide.
Secular society views the issues of euthanasia and assisted suicide to be issues related to autonomy whereas Turning the Tide shifts the focus of the issue by using a personal story style to focus on the vulnerability of the person when one experiences disability, depression or symptoms related to degenerative and/or end of life conditions.
The video also focuses on issues related to pain and symptom management and proper end-of-life care.
Groups that have viewed Turning the Tide have been incredibly impressed by the production quality of the video and the profound comments by the people featured in the DVD.
Catherine Frazee, disability studies professor at Ryerson University comments in Turning the Tide that: “People like to frame this debate in the language of autonomy, or individual choice. They’ll say to me that it’s all right, you can say no, but other people will want to say yes, but I don’t think individual autonomy should ever be permitted to trump the safety and well-being of the community.”
Wesley Smith comments in Turning the Tide that: “You have a situation in Canada and certainly in the United States, where people are having difficulty getting access to … good pain control, good psychiatric involvement and good social services. Are we going to say that the answer for these problems is assisted suicide?”
Senator Sharon Carstairs, former chair of the Special Senate Committee on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide answers the question on why people want euthanasia and assisted suicide by stating: “sometimes the pain is just too horrible, but we can deal with that. The other reason is … they want their personal dignity. Well that says something pretty awful about each and every one of us. Why have they lost their sense of dignity? It is because we have made them feel less than dignified?”
Jean Echlin, awarded the Dorothy Lea award for excellence in palliative care in 2004 comments in Turning the Tide that: “I could never advocate for someone to suicide when I can offer them pain management and symptom management right where they are.”
Turning the Tide features: Bobby Schindler (Terri Schiavo’s brother), Wesley Smith (Attorney, International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide), Catherine Frazee (former chair of the Ontario Human Rights Committee), Adrian Dieleman (counselor, rehabilitation clinic for spinal cord injuries), Jean Echlin (palliative care nursing consultant), Senator Sharon Carstairs (Canadian Senator), Alex Schadenberg (executive director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition), Reg Hancock (spinal cord injury survivor) and more.
A Discussion Guide for small group or classroom presentations has been designed for use and included with the DVD package.
The Turning the Tide DVD package includes the DVD, the Discussion Guide, a recording sheet and all the resources that are necessary for making a presentation on euthanasia and assisted suicide. It can be ordered for $50.00 for 1 package, $70.00 for 2 packages, or $100.00 for 4 packages by contacting the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition at: Box 25033, London ON, N6C 6A8, email: [email protected], or calling: 1-877-439-3348. Further bulk rates upon request.
The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition sold more than 300 copies of Turning the Tide within its first three weeks of distribution.
Comment: I have viewed this persuasive and gripping DVD – Turning the Tide produced by The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition and want to make a few suggestions. This compelling DVD will engage its audience from beginning to end.
If you have wanted to do something to educate the masses, protect the vulnerable, the infirm, people with disabilities etc,. here is your opportunity to be pro-active and make a difference – purchase a gift copy for your pro-life organization, seniors home, and for whoever, and where ever you believe this will bring a crowd. Help promote and present it to the public. This is such an excellent opportunity for those who wish they could do something positive.
May I also suggest you order it now, while it is fresh in your mind. I can not emphasize enough, the importance of showing this remarkable DVD. All the information on Turning the Tide is posted above. (Don’t forget to get a copy for yourself, show your family, friends, neighbors.)
Cheryl Eckstein, CHN Compassionate Healthcare Network www.chninternational.com/default.html; CHN is member of the World Federation of Doctors Who Respect Human Life (WFDWRHL) Dr. Karl Gunning, Pres.