Faye Girsh

Faye Girsh is the executive director of the Hemlock Society, a national organization dedicated to the legalization of voluntary physician-assisted suicide (PAS) for terminally ill patients. In the viewpoint that follows, she contends that proposals to legalize PAS in various states enjoy much popular support, and that the examples of Oregon, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, where PAS is permitted, demonstrate that assisted suicide will not become widespread once it is legalized. In fact, she writes, legalizing PAS will help prevent abuse, since the practice will be strictly regulated. According to Girsh, most opposition to legalized PAS comes from the Catholic Church and other well-funded religious groups.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. In Girsh’s opinion, what causes people to ask for a hastened death?
2. According to the author, how many people took advantage...