<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Using the method of narrative bioethics, this article analyzes Julian Schnabel’s film “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (USA/France 2007), the story of the French journalist Jean-Dominique Bauby, who was trapped in his body as the result of a cerebral infarction (Locked-in-syndrome). The ethical themes of the film are identified and evaluated as part of a public ethical discourse: euthanasia, search for identity in the disturbing experience of desease, care and compassion, spirituality and religion as dimensions of an illness narration. The results are connected with experiences of health care chaplaincy in a neurological clinic. Working with “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” in an ethical training could help doctors, nurses and therapists to reflect their care interactions and sensitize them to the dignity of neurological patients. Thereby the call for euthanasia can be reduced.</p></abstract>

Using the method of narrative bioethics, this article analyzes Julian Schnabel’s film “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (USA/France 2007), the story of the French journalist Jean-Dominique Bauby, who was trapped in his body as the result of a cerebral infarction (Locked-in-syndrome). The ethical themes of the film are identified and evaluated as part of a public ethical discourse: euthanasia, search for identity in the disturbing experience of desease, care and compassion, spirituality and religion as dimensions of an illness narration. The results are connected with experiences of health care chaplaincy in a neurological clinic. Working with “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” in an ethical training could help doctors, nurses and therapists to reflect their care interactions and sensitize them to the dignity of neurological patients. Thereby the call for euthanasia can be reduced.

„Das ist das Leben? Ich will sterben!“

Dr. theol. Pastoralreferent, Katholischer Klinikseelsorger an der Dr. Horst Schmidt Klinik. Adresse: Am Viktorstift 32, D- 55130 Mainz

Review of Ecumenical Studies Sibiu

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Eine narrativ-ethische Analyse von Julian Schnabels Film „Schmetterling und Taucherglocke“ (Frankreich/USA 2007) über ein Leben im Locked-in-Syndrom

Using the method of narrative bioethics, this article analyzes Julian Schnabel’s film “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (USA/France 2007), the story of the...

„Das ist das Leben? Ich will sterben!“

Published Online: Jan 27, 2015

Page range: 259 - 287

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ress-2014-0120

© 2015

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.