Last Writes

In the future, instead of laying out a rationale for suicide in a note to be read after death, people might have their cases heard in courtrooms, along with testimony from expert witnesses and loved ones. Maris foresees a scenario in which a jury would rule on each petitioner's situation based on criteria prescribed by law. "The jury would say, 'We heard your case, we think you have legitimate reasons to want to kill yourself, and go with our blessing. In fact here is a place where you can go, and a physician, like Kevorkian, will give you an injection and help you go,'" he suggests. "That type of thing is not so farfetched. If you decide that some situations are hopeless, why shouldn't you be able to do it rationally and efficiently and not have to feel as if you are sneaking around?