Abstract

This chapter discusses the film _My Life Without Me_ (2003) to set the stage for a discussion of the issue of futility of care. The film tells the story of Ann (Sarah Polley), who is diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer that leaves her with only a few months to live. Ann is married to Don, with whom she has had two daughters. After receiving her diagnosis, she chooses to keep the condition secret from her loved ones, believing that this is the one gift she can leave her family. The film draws attention to a broad range of tense emotional and moral concerns emerging from the world of modern neonatal medical care. Among these are: How should parents handle unexpected and devastating news about the health and welfare of their newborns? How do medical providers manage such tragic situations? What are minimally acceptable ways of demonstrating compassion for a dying child? Whose lives are impacted most by neonatal death? What makes a medical condition futile? Who should decide?