Assisted Dying: An End-of-Life Care Option or a Line Physicians Should Never Cross?

A growing number of US states and other nations are legalizing either voluntary euthanasia in which a physician (or designate) administers lethal drugs, or physician-assisted dying in which the drugs are given to the patient to self-administer. Our guest, Erica Baccus, tells us about her husband's determination to end his life rather than die of Alzheimer's disease, and the journey they took to Switzerland to make it possible (US laws don't apply to dementia).  His wishes were unquestionably honored. At the same time the procedure has implications we find troubling, especially for what it can mean for the doctor-patient relationship, such as in Canada where some physicians are now killing several of their patients a week.