Green Light

In Germany, where assisted dying remains fiercely contested, one doctor’s daily work exposes the tensions between patients’ wishes, medical duty and the law at life’s end.

The film follows Dr Johann Spittler, a neuropsychiatrist nearing the end of his career who has devoted himself to assessing and supporting people seeking assisted suicide. Shot in a quiet, observational style, it stays close to intimate testimonies. “Those who decide to take their own lives always have serious reasons,” the doctor observes, as we witness demanding evaluations and the ethical strain of granting the Green Light. Near the end, the story takes an unexpected, dramatic turn, making this profoundly human film an urgent call to reconsider how law and society respond to requests for a dignified death.

– Saulė Savanevičiūtė

TALK

But what do we know about the euthanasia situation in the Netherlands?

In 2002, the Dutch Euthanasia Act came into force. At that time, 1,883 cases were reported. By 2023, this number had risen to 9,068. Healthcare ethicist Els van Wijngaarden of Radboud University Medical Center has investigated the causes of this increase and will speak about her findings. The study focuses on how different stakeholders, from patients and healthcare professionals to policymakers, experience and interpret the rise in euthanasia cases. “We do not want to give voice only to dominant perspectives, but also to include those of minority groups,” Van Wijngaarden explains. The research examines how these actors understand recent developments and which societal factors may influence perceptions of euthanasia.

Can’t make it to this screening?

InScience 2026 continues from 11–15 March at Visum Mundi, Wageningen. Discover the full InScience Satellite programme here to find out when this film screens in Wageningen.