A short film of a dying man was deemed so unwatchable it is being called the most horrific video of the year.
Stop The Horror may only be five minutes long but it sure feels longer being so graphic and devastating.
Depicting the final, agonising days of 56-year-old Greg Sims, who died of brain cancer in 2005, the pro-euthanasia film is objectively distressing with viewer discretion being highly advised.
What makes the video even more horrifying is the fact that everything you are seeing is real. The pain is real. The suffering is real. You will be desperate to click the ‘stop’ button which has handily been put there by the team behind it.
Over the course of the film Mr Sims is seen to be convulsing and is clearly in agony even throwing himself off the hospital bed at one point.
You see his family’s excruciating heartbreak as they watch him go through a living nightmare unable to help.
The trailer for the movie is below. We can only warn you so many times but this is a distressing video to watch:
Directed by Justin Kurzel, the film was released by a campaign group of right-to-die advocates pushing for euthanasia to be legalised in Victoria, Australia.
At the time, the government was getting ready to debate laws about assisted dying in parliament.
As reported by News.com.au, Go Gentle Australia director Paul Price said:
Make no mistake — the story of Greg Sims is real.
It is really only for a small proportion of terminally ill people but the pain and suffering that Greg — and his family — endured exists and will continue to exist unless there are other choices at end of life.
The campaigners were hoping to make euthanasia legal for people who have both terminal or incurable physical diseases such as cancer, MS and motor neurone disease.
These people would be able to make a decision during the last weeks or months of their lives while being mentally competent.
Mr Sims’ daughter Nia was involved with the creation of the video by giving the details of her father’s final days to the team.
Price added:
Nia’s courage in telling her own and her father’s story will hopefully touch the conscience of Victorian MPs who will soon decide whether or not to stop the horror, to stop the suffering of those who are terminally ill and dying with pain that cannot be relieved.
Yes the film is distressing, but we cannot turn away from the reality of the horrible suffering that will continue unless this law is passed.
Thankfully for the group parliament voted in favour of the bill. Assisted dying will be legal in Victoria from 2019.
After more than 100 hours of debating, the landmark bill was passed much to the delight of the campaigners.
It marks the first time ever a parliament has gone through such a lengthy process to introduce a bill on voluntary assisted dying.
Various other countries have passed the laws through referendums or by court process but this time it was approved by the Legislative Assembly.
