It’s an obvious point—but one often overlooked for whatever reasons—that people who have decided to die alone because illness has made their life unbearable must decide to act before becoming absolutely dependent on others. It is necessary to decide in advance on the method and secure the means, and then act when there is no risk of interference. The means must therefore be fairly fast-acting and, as our stories have indicated, with drugs this is not always so. (Of course, if a person has decided to use a gun, these difficulties do not arise. But I have probably talked to more people intending voluntary euthanasia than most and have yet to meet one who plans their eventual death by shooting. A very few have decided on the car exhaust method.)
