A 1994 Dutch television show depicted the last few months in the life of Cees van Wendel, a man who had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)—a terminal illness. Van Wendel had chosen assisted suicide, which is permitted in the Netherlands if certain rules are followed. What was not clear from the program was how free his decision to commit suicide was. In the footage, his wife, Antoinette, does not allow him to speak in private with his doctor, Wilfred van Oijen; she is not shown touching her husband; and she discourages van Oijen from comforting the sobbing man. It was not clearly evident whether van Wen- del chose death because he wished to die or because he was influenced by his wife’s actions.

Supporters say that legalized assisted suicide would respect the rights of individuals. They argue...