ABSTRACT
The right to die and death with dignity became phrases of political art. As so often happens, dramatic events crystallized thinking and clarified issues. A physician wrote an article about how he helped a patient die. Vigorous debate followed. How-to books were written, death machines were devised, and carefully crafted questions were posed. When life becomes unbearable, should we provide assistance to those who want to leave life? What form should such assistance take? If persons are unable to end their life, do they have a right to assistance? Voters went to the polls. Cases were taken to court. Conflicting opinions were issued. Much ambivalence remains as the debate continues.
