ABSTRACT
PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE is often considered only in the context of the ethical problems it creates for patients, healthcare providers, and society. However, there is also an economic aspect to physician-assisted suicide that people discussing the topic often try to avoid, in part because it is thought that questions touching on life and death ought not to be sullied by the insertion of economic considerations. By looking at how much money people spend on healthcare at the end of life and estimating how many people would request physician-assisted suicide, people should be able to estimate the total amount, or upper limit, of money saved. Physician and hospital bills can add up quickly, devastating family budgets and savings especially for those who have limited or no health insurance. Add funeral bills on top of medical expenses since people tend to blur all the costs together and dying can become as traumatic financially as it is socially.
