Autonomy, voluntariness and assisted dying

What is it about?

Ethical arguments about assisted dying often focus on whether or not respect for an individual’s autonomy gives a reason to offer them an assisted death if they want it. By contrast, I argue that this option is good for us because it promotes our autonomy even if we don't want to die. This does not contradict the more familiar arguments for legalizing assisted dying based on the autonomy of those who seek to die. But it does suggest that a wider constituency of support for that legislative change might be created by emphasising that one need not be in that position to be benefited by the change.

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