The process of dying has become far more complicated than it once was.
A century ago, most people died at home of illnesses that medicine could do little to defeat. Today, a hospital, nursing home or hospice is a far more likely setting, but the place of death is not the only thing that has changed. Technology has created choices for patients and their families - choices that raise basic questions about human dignity and what constitutes a "good death."
Most people die in hospitals or institutions where the staff makes a valiant effort to keep patients alive until there is no reasonable chance of recovery. That's exactly what many people want: a no-holds-barred effort to fight off death as long as possible.
For others facing terminal illness, however, there may come a point when the fight no longer seems worth it. Those patients may find their wishes and those of their families overlooked as physicians juggle medical, legal and moral considerations. In most cases, medical professionals have considerable discretion in deciding when additional efforts to sustain life are futile and a patient should be allowed to die.
Do you think we should be able to do this, or do you think doctors should keep trying to keep you alive?
It is proposed that we should be allowed to die.