On the Right to Suicide by the Dying

Death is not a pleasant subject to talk or write about. For those who are healthy and busy, the mere thought of death is depressing. But all of us must die sometime, and if we wish to die well, we ought to think about death and plan for it long before we must face it. Nearly all deaths are painful, but the amount of pain can be greatly reduced by appropriate personal planning and social reform.

The ideal death is unexpected, quick, and dignified. The man who suffers a heart attack at home with his family and dies immediately is fortunate. He misses the fearful expectation of certain, fast approaching death, as well as the pain of a fatal illness. And, if such a death comes after a man has raised his family and completed his life&#...