Medical aid in dying is still called 'assisted suicide.' An anthropologist explains the problem with that From the 10 insights on today's news that will make you smarter tomorrow series Anita Hannig, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Brandeis University Jul 10, 2022 Jul 10, 2022 Updated Feb 6, 2023 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save More than 20% Americans live in a state with access to a medically assisted death. nathamag11/iStock / Getty Images PluskAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^562E9H:E95:8?:EJ]@C8^DE2E6D^Qm$6G6C2= DE2E6Dk^2m 2C@F?5 E96 &]$] 2C6 4FCC6?E=J 4@?D:56C:?8 H96E96C E@ =682=:K6 >65:42= 2:5 :? 5J:?8 7@C E6C>:?2==J :== A2E:6?ED] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FAE@52E6]4@>^4@?E6?ED^A9JD:4:2?\2DD:DE65\5J:?8Qm|@C6 E92? a_Tk^2m @7 p>6C:42?D 2=C625J =:G6 :? 2 DE2E6 H:E9 2446DD E@ 2 >65:42==J 2DD:DE65 562E9] s6DA:E6 E9:D C2A:5=J 492?8:?8 =682= 4=:>2E6[ E96 =2?8F286 7@C 56D4C:3:?8 E9:D ?6H H2J E@ 5:6 C6>2:?D DFCAC:D:?8=J 2?E:BF2E65]k^Am People are also reading… Nearly all Great American State Fair acts drop out 2 Friday games announced for Iowa State 2026 football schedule Hutchens: Is Ames, Iowa a food desert as Matt Campbell suggested? Savannah Guthrie shares new message about missing mother Nancy Guthrie Health center’s director denies clinic harmed patients by over-prescribing opioids SpaceX vaults more than $2 trillion valuation as stock jumps after record IPO Nick Reiner wants his trust fund for his defense. Can he get it? United States has already lost World Cup with its greed and hostility | Opinion Judge keeps order in place to remove Trump's name from Kennedy Center Analysis: Trump's UFC birthday bash was a bloody, on-brand affair Inside Texas Tech’s compliance strategy for Brendan Sorsby's return to football Pat Sajak shares rare life update after 'Wheel of Fortune' retirement More fouls, more frustration: What’s really going on with WNBA officiating? 'Unsurvivable': 8 dead after Air Force B-52 bomber crash in California Few Americans see Trump administration delivering justice in Epstein cases, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds kAm%96 E6C> E92E 4@?E:?F6D E@ 5@>:?2E6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3FD:?6DD\962=E9\@C68@?\=2HDF:ED\A@CE=2?5\b47b`43d`h5gc2cf6a5b43f_6g7_346fQm>65:2 4@G6C286k^2m @? E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?JE:>6D]4@>^a_aa^_e^ae^@A:?:@?^2>6C:42\E96\>6C4:=6DD]9E>=Qm:DDF6k^2m :D “2DD:DE65 DF:4:56]” %96 p>6C:42? |65:42= pDD@4:2E:@? FD6D E96 E6C> “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2>2\2DD?]@C8^56=:G6C:?8\42C6^6E9:4D^A9JD:4:2?\2DD:DE65\DF:4:56QmA9JD:4:2?\2DD:DE65 DF:4:56k^2m]”k^AmkAmp BF:4< =@@< 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^EC6?5D]8@@8=6]4@>^EC6?5D^n86@l&$Qmv@@8=6 %C6?5Dk^2m C6G62=D E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^EC6?5D]8@@8=6]4@>^EC6?5D^6IA=@C6n86@l&$U2>AjBl2DD:DE65Ta_5J:?8[2DD:DE65Ta_DF:4:56Qm?:?6 E:>6Dk^2m 2D >2?J A6@A=6 D62C49 7@C “2DD:DE65 DF:4:56” 2D “2DD:DE65 5J:?8]”k^Am kAmpD 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3C2?56:D]65F^724F=EJ8F:56^A6CD@?]9E>=n6>A=:5lf452d`dbbfgcfa32b_c2bb67_4363a7a724b2g65Qm4F=EFC2= 2?E9C@A@=@8:DEk^2m[ x <?@H E92E 9@H H6 ?2>6 D@>6E9:?8 56E6C>:?6D 9@H H6 E9:?< 23@FE :E] &?E:= ;FDE C646?E=J[ E96 AC:>2CJ E6C> :? E96 t?8=:D9 =2?8F286 7@C E96 AFCA@D67F=[ G@=F?E2CJ 562E9 @7 @?6D6=7 H2D “DF:4:56]” q6D:56D >2CEJC5@> @C D24C:7:46[ E96C6 H2D ?@ @E96C H2J E@ C676C E@ 2? :?E6?E:@?2= D6=7\562E9]k^AmkAmqFE E:>6D 92G6 492?865] u@C E96 A2DE ad J62CD[ D:?46 ~C68@? 6?24E65 E96 4@F?ECJ’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@C68@?]8@G^@92^!w^!#~'xst#!p#%}t##t$~&#rt$^t'p{&p%x~}#t$tp#rw^stp%w(x%wsxv}x%*pr%^s@4F>6?ED^DE2EFE6]A57Qm7:CDE 2DD:DE65 5J:?8 =2Hk^2m[ 2 >65:42==J 2DD:DE65 562E9 92D @44FA:65 2 ?6H =682= 2?5 >@C2= 42E68@CJ] p? 2DD:DE65 562E9 :D 2 >65:42= C6DA@?D6 E@ E96 56G2DE2E:?8 C62=:EJ @7 E6C>:?2= :==?6DD]k^Am kAmtBF2E:?8 2DD:DE65 5J:?8 H:E9 DF:4:56 :D?’E @?=J 2?E:BF2E65 @C >:D=625:?8 – :E’D 24EF2==J 92C>7F=] x 92G6 DA6?E 7:G6 J62CD D925@H:?8 A2E:6?ED[ 72>:=:6D 2?5 A9JD:4:2?D :?G@=G65 H:E9 2DD:DE65 5J:?8 :? p>6C:42[ 2?5 x D2H 9@H 52>28:?8 E9:D 4@?7=2E:@? 42? 36] x? >J ?6H 3@@<[ “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2?:E292??:8]4@>^Qm%96 s2J x s:6i %96 &?E@=5 $E@CJ @7 pDD:DE65 sJ:?8 :? p>6C:42k^2m[” x 6IA=@C6 E96 4@>A=6I:E:6D 2?5 4@?DEC2:?ED @7 E96 49@:46D E92E A6@A=6 H9@ AFCDF6 2? 2DD:DE65 562E9 7246]k^Amk9amp =@2565 E6C>k^9amkAm&?E:= H6== :?E@ E96 `hE9 46?EFCJ[ DF:4:56 H2D G:6H65 2D 2 4C:>6 :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[ AF?:D923=6 H:E9 4@?7:D42E:@? @7 E96 56462D65’D AC@A6CEJ 2?5 56?:2= @7 2 r9C:DE:2? 3FC:2=] p=E9@F89 DF:4:56 – 3FE ?@E :ED 2DD:DE2?46 – 92D 366? 564C:>:?2=:K65 E@52J[ :E C6>2:?D 962G:=J DE:8>2E:K65] pD A9:=@D@A96C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^A9:=@D@A9J]FE@C@?E@]42^5:C64E@CJ^:2?\924<:?8^Qmx2? w24<:?8k^2m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_ge^dhdeaeQmHC:E6Dk^2m[ “}6HD @7 2 DF:4:56 2>@?8 FD 92D 2? :>>65:2E6 C6DA@?D6i 9@CC@C]” r2==:?8 2DD:DE65 5J:?8 “DF:4:56” E2AD :?E@ E96 D@4:2= E23@@D 2?5 >@C2= @FEC286 E92E DFCC@F?5 E96 24E @7 E2<:?8 @?6’D =:76]k^Am kAm%92E DE:8>2 42? =625 E@ G6CJ D:4< A2E:6?ED’ 9:5:?8 E96:C 56D:C6 E@ AFCDF6 2? 2DD:DE65 562E9 7C@> =@G65 @?6D 7@C 762C @7 36:?8 ;F5865 7@C “DF:4:5:?8” – =62G:?8 A2E:6?ED H:E9@FE 4C:E:42= DFAA@CE] xE 2=D@ A@D6D 2 AC@3=6> 7@C E6C>:?2==J :== A2E:6?ED H9@ 92G6 2 DEC@?8 H:D9 E@ 36 C6=62D65 7C@> E96:C DF776C:?8 3FE H9@D6 C6=:8:@? 4@?D:56CD 4@>>:EE:?8 “DF:4:56” 2 D:?] ~?6 56G@FE 9@>6=6DD A2E:6?E 7C@> !@CE=2?5 H:E9 6?5\DE286 C6?2= 72:=FC6 DA6?E 9:D =2DE H2<:?8 >@>6?ED 367@C6 96 5C2?< E96 =6E92= >65:42E:@? 28@?:K:?8 23@FE H96E96C v@5 H@F=5 7@C8:G6 9:> 7@C 6?5:?8 9:D =:76]k^AmkAmpD x 7@F?5 5FC:?8 >J C6D62C49[ E96 4@?7=2E:@? @7 2DD:DE65 5J:?8 H:E9 DF:4:56 D@>6E:>6D 42FD6D 72>:=:6D E@ 766= :D@=2E65 :? E96 36C62G6>6?E AC@46DD] p7C2:5 @7 36:?8 D92>65 7@C “236EE:?8” E96:C =@G65 @?6’D “DF:4:56[” D@>6 92G6 925 E@ >2D< E96:C 8C:67]k^Am kAm'2=6C:6[ H9@D6 6=56C=J >@E96C FD65 ~C68@?’D 2DD:DE65 5J:?8 =2H :? a_`g[ E@=5 96C DFA6CG:D@C 2E H@C< 23@FE 96C >@E96C’D 49@D6? 562E9] w6 6>:EE65 2 “9FD965 8C@2?[” @776C:?8 ?@ 4@?5@=6?46D 7@C 96C =@DD] “p7E6C E92E 6?4@F?E6C[ x @?=J C6G62=65 E96 56E2:=D E@ ECFDE65 7C:6?5D 2?5 72>:=J[” '2=6C:6 E@=5 >6] “xE 25565 2 =2J6C @7 D25?6DD E@ 6IA6?5 6?6C8J ECJ:?8 E@ 7:8FC6 @FE H92E D@>6@?6’D C624E:@? >:89E 36]”k^AmkAmq6C62G6>6?E 6IA6CED 42== E9:D EJA6 @7 >@FC?:?8 “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D@4:2=H@C<6C]4@>^762EFC6\2CE:4=6D^AC24E:46^5:D6?7C2?49:D65\8C:67\H96?\8C:67\2?5\8C:6G6CD\2C6\F?C64@8?:K^Qm5:D6?7C2?49:D65 8C:67k^2m” – 9:556? 8C:67 E92E :D ?@E 7F==J 24<?@H=65865 @C 6G6? 2==@H65 3J D@4:6EJ 3642FD6 @7 E96 H2J D@>6@?6 5:65[ DF49 2D 7C@> 2 5CF8 @G6C5@D6 @C :? FE6C@]k^Am k9amp >65:42= AC@465FC6k^9amkAmuC@> E96:C :?46AE:@?[ 2DD:DE65\5J:?8 =2HD :? p>6C:42 H6C6 56D:8?65 E@ >@3:=:K6 E96 E@@=D @7 >65:4:?6 E@ 62D6 DF776C:?8 2E E96 6?5 @7 D@>6@?6’D =:76] %96D6 =2HD 5C2H 2 4=62C =:?6 36EH66? 2DD:DE65 5J:?8 2?5 2 DF:4:52= 24E] %96 ?2E:@?’D 7:CDE 2DD:DE65\5J:?8 DE2EFE6[ ~C68@?’D `hhf k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@C68@?]8@G^@92^!w^!#~'xst#!p#%}t##t$~&#rt$^t'p{&p%x~}#t$tp#rw^stp%w(x%wsxv}x%*pr%^s@4F>6?ED^DE2EFE6]A57Qms62E9 H:E9 s:8?:EJ p4Ek^2m[ DA64:7:6D E92E “p4E:@?D E2<6? :? 244@C52?46 H:E9 ,E96 p4E. D92== ?@E[ 7@C 2?J AFCA@D6[ 4@?DE:EFE6 DF:4:56[ 2DD:DE65 DF:4:56[ >6C4J <:==:?8 @C 9@>:4:56[ F?56C E96 =2H]”k^Am kAmpD #@86C z=:8=6C[ 2 A9JD:4:2? 2?5 42?46C A2E:6?E H9@ :D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3@DE@?8=@36]4@>^a_aa^_b^_d^>6EC@^42A6\4@5\5@4E@CD\BF6DE\=682=:K6\>65:42==J\2DD:DE65\562E9\8@6D\367@C6\D;4^QmDF:?8k^2m E96 4@>>@?H62=E9 @7 |2DD249FD6EED 7@C 9:D C:89E E@ 5:6[ AFE :E[ “r2==:?8 :E DF:4:56 >62?D E92E H6’C6 ?@E E2=<:?8 23@FE 6?5\@7\=:76 :DDF6D]”k^Am kAm%96 A2CE:4:A2E:@? @7 >65:4:?6 2?5 2 A2E:6?E’D D@4:2= ?6EH@C<[ HC:E6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>2J@4=:?:4]@C8^3:@8C2A9:6D^3@DEH:4<\;\>:4926=\>\5\>72^3:@\a__db`g_QmADJ49:2EC:DED y@9? |:4926= q@DEH:4<k^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@4E@C]H63>5]4@>^5@4E@C^=6H:D\4@96?\b472hhb7\be`_\c4f3\22`c\5e2be2fgg6bc\@G6CG:6HQm{6H:D r@96?k^2m[ 2C6 H92E 5:776C6?E:2E6 2DD:DE65 5J:?8 7C@> DF:4:56] p? 2DD:DE65 562E9 :D 4@==23@C2E:G6 2?5 D2?4E:@?65 3J 2 A2E:6?E’D DFAA@CE DJDE6> – ?@E F?:=2E6C2= 2?5 4@G6CE] “(96? E96J 24BF:6D46 E@ C6BF6DED E@ 724:=:E2E6 5J:?8[ ,A9JD:4:2?D. 2C6 ?@E 236EE:?8 DF:4:56 @C 4@>>:EE:?8 9@>:4:56[” q@DEH:4< 2?5 r@96? HC:E6] “%96 5:DE:?4E:@? 36EH66? 4=:?:42= DF:4:56 2?5 @E96C EJA6D @7 6?5\@7\=:76 564:D:@?D 56>2?5D 2 ?6H 7@C>F=2E:@?]”k^Am k9amz6J 5:776C6?46Dk^9am kAm%6C>:?2==J :== A2E:6?ED H9@ D66< 2? 2DD:DE65 562E9 2C6?’E DF:4:52=] p3D6?E 2 E6C>:?2= AC@8?@D:D[ E96J 92G6 ?@ :?56A6?56?E 56D:C6 E@ 6?5 E96:C =:76] x? 724E[ AC6D4C:3:?8 A9JD:4:2?D >FDE FA9@=5 E96 5:DE:?4E:@? 36EH66? 2DD:DE65 5J:?8 2?5 DF:4:56 :? E96:C 4=:?:42= H@C< 3J D4C66?:?8 7@C >6?E2= :==?6DD[ DF49 2D 56AC6DD:@? WH9:49 :D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?43:]?=>]?:9]8@G^A>4^2CE:4=6D^!|re`edda_^Qm4=:?:42==J 2DD@4:2E65k^2m H:E9 DF:4:52= E9@F89EDX] p A2E:6?E H9@ D9@HD 2?J D:8?D @7 >6?E2= :>A2:C>6?E >FDE F?56C8@ 7FCE96C D4CFE:?J 3J 2 >6?E2= 962=E9 6IA6CE]k^Am kAm!2E:6?ED H9@ AFCDF6 >65:42= 2:5 :? 5J:?8 2C6 ?@ =@?86C =@@<:?8 2E 2? @A6?\6?565 =:76 DA2? 6:E96C] %@ BF2=:7J 7@C 2? 2DD:DE65 562E9 :? DE2E6D H:E9 E96D6 =2HD E96J >FDE 2=C625J 36 @? E96 G6C86 @7 5J:?8 – E92E :D[ H:E9:? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@>A2DD:@?2?549@:46D]@C8^@FC\:DDF6D^>65:42=\2:5\:?\5J:?8QmD:I >@?E9Dk^2m @7 E96 6?5 @7 E96:C =:76] %96D6 A2E:6?ED 5@?’E 7246 2 >62?:?87F= 564:D:@? 36EH66? =:G:?8 2?5 5J:?8[ 3FE 36EH66? @?6 <:?5 @7 562E9 2?5 2?@E96C]k^Am kAmpD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^562E9H:E95:8?:EJ]@C8^DE2E6D^Qm>@C6 DE2E6Dk^2m 2C6 :?49:?8 4=@D6C E@ =682=:K:?8 2DD:DE65 5J:?8[ :E’D E:>6 E92E H6 C6G:D6 2?5 C67:?6 @FC 4F=EFC2= =6I:4@? 2C@F?5 E9:D 6>6C86?E 6?5\@7\=:76 AC24E:46] p >65:42==J 2DD:DE65 562E9 567:?:E:G6=J H2CC2?ED 2 =:?8F:DE:4 2?5 4@?46AEF2= 42E68@CJ @7 :ED @H?]k^Am kAm000k^AmkAmk6>mkDA2?mp?:E2 w2??:8 5@6D ?@E H@C< 7@C[ 4@?DF=E[ @H? D92C6D :? @C C646:G6 7F?5:?8 7C@> 2?J 4@>A2?J @C @C82?:K2E:@? E92E H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> E9:D 2CE:4=6[ 2?5 92D 5:D4=@D65 ?@ C6=6G2?E 277:=:2E:@?D 36J@?5 E96:C 24256>:4 2AA@:?E>6?E]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am kAmk6>mkDA2?m000k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^A2?E28C2A9]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^7chdeg_h\ace7\d37h\22b5\3db5ag6375ddQmg DEC2E68:6D E@ 96=A >2:?E2:? DEC6?8E9 2D J@F 286k^2mk^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^A2?E28C2A9]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^_agf_754\d`h7\d45a\hb43\c3_b6af674`_Qm$E2E6D H96C6 E96 >@DE A6@A=6 =:G6 :? >2E6C?2= 962=E9 42C6 56D6CEDk^2mk^Am In this Series 10 insights on today's news that will make you smarter tomorrow Updated Feb 6, 2023 Lost touch with someone? Reach out – your friend will likely appreciate it more than you think Updated Feb 6, 2023 More young voters could come out to vote in November, sparked by abortion and other hot political issues Updated Feb 6, 2023 US abortion restrictions are unlikely to influence international trends, which are largely becoming more liberal 174 updates Previous Next 0 Comments Related to this story