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Does a competent person suffering from a terminal illness or enduring an otherwise burdensome existence, who considers his life no longer of value but is incapable of ending it, have a right to be helped to die? Should someone for whom further medical treatment would be futile be allowed to die regardless of expressing a preference to be given all possible treatment? These are some of the questions that are asked and answered in this wide-ranging discussion of both the morality of medically assisted death and the justifiability of making certain instances legal. A case is offered in support of the moral and legal permissibility of specified instances of medically assisted death, along with responses to the main objections that have been levelled against it. The philosophical argument is bolstered by empirical evidence from The Netherlands and Oregon where voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are already legal.

Status of persons --- Professional ethics. Deontology --- Medical law --- Human rights --- Sociology of health --- Criminal law. Criminal procedure --- Assisted suicide --- Euthanasia --- Law and legislation. --- Moral and ethical aspects. --- Moral and ethical aspects --- Arts and Humanities --- Philosophy --- Assisted death (Assisted suicide) --- Assisted dying (Assisted suicide) --- Death, Assisted (Assisted suicide) --- Doctor-assisted suicide --- Dying, Assisted (Assisted suicide) --- Patient-directed death --- Patient-directed dying --- Physician-assisted suicide --- Suicide --- Medical laws and legislation --- Assisted death (Euthanasia) --- Assisted dying (Euthanasia) --- Death, Assisted (Euthanasia) --- Death, Mercy --- Dying, Assisted (Euthanasia) --- Killing, Mercy --- Mercy death --- Mercy killing --- Homicide --- Medical ethics --- Right to die --- Law and legislation