The Price of Life (2009)

The Price of Life, a thought-provoking documentary directed by Adam Wishart, delves into the intricate ethical dilemmas faced by the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom. The film centers around the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), an organization tasked with determining which drug treatments the NHS can afford to provide. Here are the key aspects of this compelling documentary:

1. Budget Constraints and Treatment Decisions:
   • The NHS operates within finite financial resources, making it impossible to offer every available treatment to patients.
   • The Price of Life explores how NICE grapples with these constraints, deciding which patients should receive specific treatments and which should not.
2. Focus on Cancer Drug Revlimid:
   • The documentary zooms in on the cancer drug Revlimid. We follow the lives of those directly impacted by NICE’s decisions:
     • Professor David Barnett, chair of the NICE appraisals committee, assesses the drug’s effectiveness.
     • Cancer patients like Julia Gatt and Eric Rutherford hang in the balance, their lives dependent on NICE’s verdict.
     • Sol Barer, head of the American drug company that discovered Revlimid, navigates the financial implications.
     • NHS manager Sophia Christie grapples with the budgetary consequences of committee decisions.
3. Human Conflicts and Moral Questions:
   • The film raises a profound moral question: How much is life worth, and how much should society pay?
   • As Julia and Eric await the decision, Sophia faces the possibility of budget cuts in other areas.
4. Critical Reception:
   • The Price of Life received acclaim, nominated for the Grierson Award.
   • Critics praised its balance, thought-provoking content, and deep emotional impact.

In a world where resources are finite, this documentary forces us to confront the delicate balance between cost, ethics, and human lives.