Premiere Date: July 26, 2005
Synopsis
Is it ever rational to choose death? On Independence Day at Stern Ranch in central California, 77-year-old solar-energy pioneer Bob Stern finds out he is seriously ill — possibly dying. Meanwhile, an elderly in-law is slowly declining on artificial life support in a hospital. Bob decides to cheat that fate and take his own life. His family tries to stop him. But first, Bob sets up a video camera. Daughter Susan Stern (Barbie Nation, POV 1998) tells the story of her father's quirky, inspiring life and the difficult end-of-life choices faced by an aging population. Part King Lear, part Western, The Self-Made Man is a true-life family drama about a controversial issue: Should we control how we die? A co-presentation with the Independent Television Service (ITVS).
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July 26, 2005
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The Self-Made Man
I'm just confused about this whole "who has the right to die and who doesn't," If he commited suicide that was his choice. I don't think it had to do with religion, mental ill, or anything like that, we don't know what really is because we do not know what's he thinking, what's on his mind. There is a lot when it comes to this topic, why did he do it? no one really knows the answer of why people choose to die or commited suicide. This is something that we have to look at it as something deep, something that is affecting society. Why did he do it, I always think is something as choice. Is not even about how brave or strong he is, but is not even about weakness or fearness. We do not know what makes them do this. I value my life so, much that I wouldn't have the strenght to do something like that, and I'm afraid of death.
by Mariela Rodriguez from South Bend, IN
December 3, 2009, 11:37 AM