THE RIGHT TO DIE

By legalizing assisted dying with strict safeguards, societies can offer dignity, alleviate unbearable suffering, and grant people the psychological comfort of control—even if they never choose to use it.

For a species obsessed with control—controlling nature, economies, the precise shade of beige on living room walls—humans have an odd habit of losing their minds over the idea that someone might want control over their own death. You can decide what to wear, what to eat, whether to get a tattoo of a flamingo riding a skateboard, but when it comes to deciding how to exit this mortal coil? Suddenly, it’s everybody’s business.

The paradox is striking. We celebrate personal freedom, champion bodily autonomy, and romanticize the idea of “living on your own terms.” Yet, when someone wants to die on their own terms—especially in the face of unbearable suffering—the conversation derails into moral panic, legal battles, and philosophical debates led by people who aren’t the ones suffering.

Modern medicine has made it easier than ever to prolong life—but at what cost, and for whose benefit? Advances in medical technology mean that a body can be kept alive far beyond its natural limits, often with little regard for quality of life. The U.S medical industry profits enormously from this artificial extension of life, with nearly 25% of all Medicare spending occurring in the last year of a patient’s life, according to The New England Journal of Medicine. Hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and long-term care facilities rake in billions by keeping terminally ill patients on expensive treatments, life support, and aggressive interventions that often cause more suffering than relief. This is not care; it is an industry built on the fear of death. A person who wishes to die with dignity should not be forced into financial ruin or prolonged suffering simply because their life is profitable to someone else.

The right to choose the time to die isn’t about promoting death. It’s about offering choice. Most people who support assisted dying don’t do so because they’re eager to pass over early. They support it because it provides psychological comfort—the profound relief of knowing that, should life become an inescapable torment, there’s an option. Interestingly, studies in places where assisted dying is legal show that many people who obtain approval never actually go through with it. Just having the choice is enough to ease their anxiety.

Consider the psychological toll of terminal illness. Beyond the physical agony, there’s the erosion of identity—losing autonomy, dignity, and the ability to participate in life as you once did. Imagine being trapped in a failing body, fully aware of your decline, dependent on others for basic functions, with no end in sight except through prolonged suffering. This isn’t hypothetical; it’s the reality for countless individuals facing conditions like ALS, late-stage cancer, and degenerative neurological diseases.

Opponents argue that legalizing assisted dying creates a “slippery slope,” as if giving people autonomy over their death will somehow lead to a dystopian free-for-all where doctors are handing out lethal prescriptions like Halloween candy. But data from countries where it’s legal—like Belgium, the Netherlands, and Canada—shows that these laws are carefully regulated, with stringent safeguards and ethical oversight. The actual “slippery slope” is forcing people to endure unimaginable suffering because of unfounded fears about abuse.

What about the abuse that does happen under prohibition? In places where assisted dying is illegal, people still find ways to end their lives—often alone, in distress, and using methods far more traumatic than a peaceful, medically supervised option. This isn’t protecting life; it’s forcing people into desperate, dangerous situations because society refuses to acknowledge a basic truth: death is a part of life, and how we face it matters.

The psychological effects of denying the right to die extend beyond the individual. Families are left watching loved ones suffer, powerless to help, haunted by memories of agony instead of peace. Caregivers bear the emotional burden of providing comfort when comfort isn’t possible. Medical professionals face moral distress, trapped between their oath to do no harm and the harm caused by prolonging suffering against a patient’s will.

Now, consider the opposite: the positive psychological impact of having the right to die. It fosters a sense of control, dignity, and relief—not just for those facing death, but for their loved ones. Knowing that a peaceful, compassionate option exists allows people to focus on quality of life in their final days, rather than fearing the inevitability of prolonged pain. It transforms the end of life from a horror story into an opportunity for closure, reflection, and even beauty.

Take the case of Brittany Maynard, a young woman with terminal brain cancer who became an advocate for assisted dying in the U.S. After relocating to Oregon, where it was legal, she chose the timing of her death surrounded by family, on her own terms. Her story highlighted not just the right to die, but the right to live without the constant shadow of uncontrollable suffering.

Legalizing assisted dying doesn’t devalue life; it acknowledges that life’s value includes the ability to define its end with dignity. It’s not about giving up—it’s about having the option not to endure needless agony when hope has been medically exhausted.

Critics often invoke religious arguments, claiming that life is sacred and only a higher power can decide when it ends. That’s fine for personal belief systems, but public policy shouldn’t be dictated by theology. Freedom of religion includes the freedom from religious doctrine, especially when it comes to decisions about one’s own body.

Others worry about vulnerable populations feeling pressured to choose death. This is a valid concern, which is why robust safeguards are essential—comprehensive mental health evaluations, clear consent protocols, and strict eligibility criteria. In jurisdictions where assisted dying is legal, data consistently shows that the overwhelming majority of individuals who choose it possess terminal illnesses, sound minds, and a clear, autonomous desire for relief.

The right to die also intersects with broader issues of healthcare equity. In places with inadequate palliative care, people may seek assisted dying not because they truly want to die, but because they lack access to proper support. Legalization must go hand-in-hand with investment in hospice and palliative services, ensuring that no one chooses death simply because life became unlivable due to neglect.

And yes, there’s a cultural dimension. Death is taboo in many societies—a subject to be avoided, sanitized, or hidden behind euphemisms. But denying its inevitability doesn’t make it less real. It just leaves people unprepared, isolated in their grief, and terrified of the very thing that will eventually happen to all of us. Embracing the right to die fosters healthier conversations about mortality, encouraging acceptance rather than fear.

Interestingly, in places where assisted dying is legal, the societal attitude toward death shifts. It becomes less of a failure and more of a transition—one that can be approached with intention, support, and even gratitude. Imagine that: gratitude, not terror, at the prospect of a peaceful death.

Legal reform around this issue isn’t just about terminal illness. It’s about autonomy—the right to define your life, including its end. If we trust people to make decisions about their health, their bodies, and their futures, why draw the line at the final chapter? It’s arbitrary, paternalistic, and rooted in discomfort rather than logic.

The right to die isn’t about normalizing death; it’s about normalizing dignity in death. It’s about offering compassion, choice, and the simple, radical belief that individuals are the ultimate experts on their own suffering.

Therefore, under Folklaw:

The right to die shall be recognized as a fundamental human right. Individuals facing terminal illness, unbearable suffering, or irreversible decline shall have the legal option to seek medically assisted dying, with strict safeguards to ensure informed, voluntary consent.

Comprehensive mental health evaluations, clear eligibility criteria, and regulatory oversight will prevent abuse and protect vulnerable populations. Access to quality palliative care and hospice services will be guaranteed to support end-of-life dignity.

No person shall be forced to endure prolonged suffering against their will, and healthcare professionals will have the legal protection to assist in compassionate, patient-directed end-of-life decisions.