The Trouble with Dying examines the current debate on euthanasia from the perspective of individuals who are personally affected by the political decisions society will make on this issue. The production asks the questions of how we choose to balance in society the sanctity of life with the desire to have a meaningful control over how life ends.

This includes an examination of the last days of Cindy Cowan, a 47 year old Toronto resident and advocate for legislative reform on assisted suicide, who lost her battle with ovarian cancer in 2013. The documentary also uses an undercover team to expose how assisted death is currently undertaken in back alleys away from public view on the streets of Tijuana, Mexico. The film takes viewers behind the scenes to witness the illegal procurement of veterinary medications that are often used illegally to create a pain free method of death.