ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the related topics of euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, abortion, and the right to die. Terminal sedation is used most often when the patient is suffering severe pain, agitation, or dypsnea. The chapter shows how difficult it can be when patients cannot participate fully in decision-making and when, therefore, it is not clear what choices they would have made if given the opportunities. In recent years, the public has had more opportunity to learn about right-to-die issues. The chapter examines some of the key concepts and learned how the public views them. The chapter also considers some of the specific human experiences that have influenced the present status of the right-to-die issue and that will also play a role in future developments. Physician-assisted death as advocated and practiced by Kevorkian has been criticized on the grounds that only God can give and only God should take life.
