Dr. Jessica Zitter graduated from Harvard and is an attending physician at Highland Hospital on Oakland, California.

Aside from working at the hospital, she has published many articles as well as her own book, "Extreme Measures: Finding a Better Path to the End of Life".

The documentary begins as Zitter attempts to communicate with a patient named Donna who has myotonic dystrophy.

As the doctors search for a specialist and other options, Donna's condition deteriorates, and her family decides to take her off the breathing tube.

After Donna, the film introduces Selena, who stopped breathing on the way to the ER and suffered severe brain damage.