In Boston, Massachusetts, sculptor Ken Harrison finishes the installation of a large art piece in a park, assisted by his students and his dancer girlfriend, Pat. He promises to make dinner for Pat and they drive off in separate cars. Brakes fail on a truck as it speeds through an intersection and Ken crashes into the truck. At the hospital, Dr. Michael Emerson, chief of medical services, performs the surgery which saves Ken’s life, but leaves him a quadriplegic. Six months later in the Intensive Care ward, Nurse Rodriguez introduces rookie nurse Mary Jo Sadler to Ken, who decides to call her “Joey,” and jokes while helping instruct her on his care. When Pat visits, Nurse Rodriguez reveals that Ken has no hope of recovery. An orderly named John arrives to shave Ken and as they discuss the orderly’s band, John drums a beat on Ken’s leg. Dr. Clare Scott examines Ken and announces he is ready to start physical therapy, insisting it will help him feel better. At the nurses’ station, Dr. Scott tells Nurse Rodriguez that Ken seems more agitated than usual, and increases his dose of Valium. As Dr. Emerson leads a group on the daily rounds, they discuss a fifty-six-year-old patient who died, and Emerson lectures that death is the enemy and they should feel sick whenever they see a body that has not reached its allotted seventy years. When Joey brings coffee to Ken, he laughs and refuses to drink it, accidentally causing her to spill the liquid on him. As Ken apologizes, she rushes to change his clothes and the sheets, but in her haste, he starts to fall off the bed. Orderlies rush to help and lower Ken to the floor, and Nurse Rodriguez scolds Joey as they change his bed sheets. Ken insists it was his fault but is embarrassed that he cannot do anything. When Dr. Emerson enters with his students, Ken yells at them to leave. Emerson closes the curtains behind them, returning moments later with Dr. Scott to examine Ken. They tell Ken he is doing well, dialysis treatments are working, and he will transfer to a rehabilitation facility soon. Ken asks if he will regain use of his limbs, and they admit he will not. He wonders why they did not tell him earlier, and learns they waited until he was ready to face asking the question. Dr. Emerson orders Dr. Scott to increase Ken’s Valium dose. She gets another pill, but Ken refuses to take it. His consciousness is all he has left and he does not want that paralyzed as well. Dr. Scott informs Dr. Emerson that Ken would not take the pill and argues that a depressive drug will not help him. Dr. Emerson disagrees and returns to Ken’s room with a Valium shot. Ken refuses permission and states that he does not want to stay alive. Dr. Emerson insists Ken is depressed and cannot make that decision. He gives the shot, and Ken is infuriated until the drug takes hold. Later, he cries as he dreams of Pat dancing while he sculpts. In the morning, Ken asks Nurse Rodriguez to contact the insurance company lawyer, claiming he realizes he needs money. When Pat visits, Ken asks her to leave forever and find a new life. He knows she loves him, but is no longer the man he was. She is shocked, but Ken insists her presence is a torturous reminder of everything he will never do again. Later, the orderly John wheels Ken into the solarium to meet Mrs. Kate Boyle, an administrator who heard that Ken no longer wants treatment. Ken admits he wants to die, so she attempts to give him a pep talk, suggesting he dictate a book on sculpting or write poetry. Ken counters that he is not interested in changing art forms. His whole life revolved around being a sculptor. As they debate the issue, he becomes more convinced he wants to die. When he starts to choke and cannot breathe, he begs Kate Boyle to leave him alone, but she calls for assistance and they save Ken’s life. Later, he discusses the situation with Dr. Scott. She thinks he will move past the depression, but he feels she has a moral obligation to accept his decision. When attorney Carter Hill arrives to discuss insurance paperwork, Ken asks if the lawyer will represent him in a right to die case. Hill is uncertain about taking the case, and meets with Dr. Emerson prior to making a decision. Emerson states the hospital has spent a lot of time and money to save Ken’s life, but Hill insists the issue is a man’s right to determine his own life. Emerson claims it is his sworn duty to protect life, and that Ken is mentally unbalanced. Hill informs Ken of Dr. Emerson’s response and wants to bring an independent psychiatrist for another opinion. Hill knows that Dr. Emerson will hire two psychiatrists to corroborate his claims in an attempt to get Ken committed to the hospital under a “mental health” stay. Dr. Scott is stunned when she learns of Dr. Emerson’s plan. She may not agree with Ken’s choice, but argues that being suicidal is not evidence of insanity. Dr. Emerson warns her that if Ken dies suddenly, he will order an investigation. The various psychiatrists meet with Ken, and he is frustrated at being watched on monitors. Dr. Scott visits Ken’s loft and admires his sculptures. She asks Pat to help Ken to change his mind, but Pat respects Ken’s wishes and suggests Clare Scott do the same. Dr. Scott meets with Hill and admits that part of her would be relieved if Ken overdosed on a bottle of sleeping pills. That night, she visits Ken and brings his sculpture of a hand, which is his favorite piece. She asks if Ken is certain of his decision, and is understanding when he insists that life is over for him. Late at night, John and Joey sneak Ken into the basement where John’s band plays music and they share a marijuana cigarette with Ken. The group scatters when a security guard approaches, leaving Ken smoking the “joint.” The next morning, Carter Hill agrees to represent Ken, but not for a hearing. It is against the law to deprive anyone of his liberty without due process and Hill plans to apply for a writ of habeus corpus, meaning “give us the body.” If sufficient cause cannot be established to detain Ken, the judge will order him released. Hill admits he could bear to lose the case, but Ken states that would be a life sentence for him. Judge Wyler leads the formal hearing at the hospital. Dr. Emerson and the hospital’s psychiatrists claim that Ken is clinically depressed. Carter Hill’s psychiatrist argues that Ken is reacting in a rational manner to a bad situation and is capable of making this decision, although the doctor personally disagrees with it. The judge questions Ken, who claims his life is torment, and it is cruel to deprive him of the freedom of choice. Ken asks to be discharged so he can die. The judge retires to study precedents and contemplate the case. Upon returning, he rules that Ken is in possession of his mental faculties and orders he be set free. As Ken is wheeled back to his room, Dr. Emerson offers to let Ken stay at the hospital, promising they will stop treatment and will not attempt any last minute efforts unless Ken asks for help. He promises Ken will not be alone and will not have any discomfort before slipping into a coma within a few days, with death coming within a week or two. Ken thankfully accepts the offer and is wheeled into his room, where he lies in bed staring at his sculpture of the hand.