Should We Have the Right to Die?

The story

• This week, New York lawmakers had a hearing on the proposed Medical Aid in Dying Law, which would give terminally ill people the right to obtain life-ending medication from their doctors.
• Last year, New York’s highest court ruled physician-assisted suicide illegal, and many say the current proposal stands almost no chance of passing, despite broad public support.

Why it matters

• Currently, six U.S. states and the District of Columbia have legalized physician-assisted suicide. In all cases, the patient must be within six months of death.
• No jurisdiction in the United States allows a person to terminate their life if death is not already imminent.
• A 104-year-old Australian, David Goodall, just brought that issue back to global attention when he flew to Switzerland with the intention of ending his life even though doctors have not ruled him terminal. Switzerland does not require death to be around the corner.
• Mr. Goodall says his quality of life has deteriorated substantially and that he no longer wishes to live, but Australia prohibits doctors from helping him to die. If all goes according to his wishes, a Swiss doctor will give him lethal drugs on Thursday.
• Many U.S. activists are pressing for expanded rights for mentally competent, uncoerced people to seek assistance from their doctors in ending their lives.
• Others argue that suicide under any circumstances is immoral, and that the government’s obligation is to offer better services to ailing and aging people.

What do you think?

Should government expand people’s access to life-ending medications? Should we prohibit suicide in any form? Should government offer more services to sick and aging people? Hit Take Action, and share your thoughts below.

--Sara E. Murphy