Peter Wegner was a professor of computer science at Brown University and enjoyed an international reputation in his field. In the summer of 1999, on a trip to London to receive an award, he was hit by a bus and sustained serious brain injuries. The film follows the family, with the help of his doctor, making difficult decisions about his treatment. Should the comatose professor be subjected to a lengthy and complicated brain surgery which could save his life but might leave him in a vegatative state? How does one make a decision at a time when scientific knowledge is limited and decisions must be made under stress? The odds were very much against a satisfactory recovery; but then, what is "satisfactory"?

Doctors who evaluated Peter's condition gave him only a 5% chance to survive and another 5% chance to have brain function. His wife and sons decided to proceed with the surgery. Seventy year old Wegner beat the odds. After lengthy surgery and recovery, many of his powers were restored. He regained his speech, had the use of his fertile mind, was able to teach again and continue with his research. There were some limitations; he could not maintain the level of concentration he once had, his memory was not as sharp, and his scholarly papers had to be co-authored. However, he could continue to be productive. And his family was grateful to have him alive!

After such traumatic events his personality and some of his priorities changed. His devoted wife describes how the "new" Peter is more open and loving towards her. Professor Arthur Van Dam, a colleague of Peter's reflects on whether he would gamble on a life with some brain impairment, or whether he would prefer death to losing some mental faculty. The film will spark discussion about the difficult bioethical questions surrounding the treatment of patients with catastrophic injuries.

Study guide available

"The tape is beautiful, thought-provoking, and poignant. I could imagine it being used in medical ethics courses, neurology courses, ICU's etc."
Philip Greenland, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Northwestern Medical School

"The film raises more questions than it answers, which may be the mark of a successful exercises in bioethics. The film serves as a good stating point for discussion in undergraduate classrooms, medical school ethics courses, or among practicing healthcare professionals. Recommended for academic or special library collections in ethics, bioethics or healthcare administration." Marcy Brown, Forbes Regional Hospital Health Sciences Library for Educational Media Reviews Online

American Psychological Association, 2004