The Hemlock group counsels people who face terminal illness and would rather die quickly and painlessly first. Their book describes several case histories and techniques. Personally, I believe most people facing painful death would be better served by other options—hospice care, home care, or pain relief centers. However, Hemlock’s newsletter and book (Let Me Die Before I Wake) can guide the people who need it toward a prepared, graceful exit
—that doesn’t emotionally wound the people left behind. Reading about voluntary euthanasia makes suicide seem less like a romantic escape and more like a tedious chore.
