A Right to Die with Dignity: Using International Perspectives to Formulate a Workable U.S. Policy

Abstract

As medical technology lengthens man’s natural life-span, the right to die with dignity has moved to the forefront of contentious American societal issues. The United States should not hesitate to look at right to die legislation on the international stage, prudently sifting through novel and bold approaches that may or may not work in our country.

After analyzing the U.S. legal opinions on the right to die, this Comment examines pertinent international judicial opinions and legislation that could be useful in guiding the debate in the United States. The American discussion is often crowded with polemical debates that obfuscate the issues; this Comment will attempt to place these arguments into proper perspective. This Comment closes with suggestions of several bold, but rudimentary, reforms that should be implemented in the United States before any further discussions on right to die issues proceed.