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Discussions in Bioethics: Who Should Decide?
1985
14 min
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One of a series of short, open-ended dramas designed to stimulate discussion of values and ethics in relation to modern medical technology. This film deals with questions arising from advances in pre-natal diagnosis. Joanne, a victim of spina bifida, discovers that her unborn child has the same disease. A decision whether to terminate the pregnancy must be reached quickly. When her husband says that all he ever wanted was "a normal baby," Joanne counters with "What is normal?"
One of a series of short, open-ended dramas designed to stimulate discussion of values and ethics in relation to modern medical technology. This film deals with questions arising from advances in pre-natal diagnosis. Joanne, a victim of spina bifida, discovers that her unborn child has the same disease. A decision whether to terminate the pregnancy must be reached quickly. When her husband says that all he ever wanted was "a normal baby," Joanne counters with "What is normal?"
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directorBeverly Shaffer
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producerWolf Koenig
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executive producerAndy Thomson
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scriptJefferson Lewis
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cameraAndy Kitzanuk
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soundYves Gendron
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editingGinny Stikeman
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sound editingWojtek Klis
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re-recordingJean-Pierre Joutel
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castJacqueline ChallengerJoanna NoyesPatricia PhillipsChuck Shamata
Ages 15 to 17
Study Guide
School subjects
Abortion is the main focus of this short film, which examines the issue of the right to life (or to a “normal” life). A couple must make a painful decision about whether or not to terminate a pregnancy. Beyond this specific example, you could describe the pro-life and pro-choice debate that divides some societies.