Gerontologist Warns Clooney's 'In Love' Could Glamorize Assisted Dying

In a stark warning, a California dementia specialist has expressed concerns that George Clooney's new film "In Love" could romanticize assisted suicide and send a dangerous message to millions of vulnerable people living with Alzheimer's. Patty Mouton, a veteran gerontologist and palliative care expert, told the Daily Mail that the movie risks "glamorizing" death and distorting the painful realities of illness, care, and family duty.

Mouton fears Clooney's portrayal could make those struggling with Alzheimer's and their loved ones believe that choosing death is an act of courage or love, rather than a desperate decision with far-reaching ramifications. She worries the film's Hollywood gloss and star power will mask the emotional and moral costs of assisted suicide, making it seem like a graceful, noble exit.

The gerontologist emphasizes that society must reaffirm its duty to care for the sick with compassion, not convenience. She believes the growing normalization of assisted dying procedures, from Europe to Hollywood, risks warping the public's moral compass. Mouton hopes Clooney and his team will remember that behind every Alzheimer's story is not just pain, but resilience, and that they will be "very, very careful" not to emotionally incentivize people to view assisted suicide in a more positive way.