Assisted suicide compared with refusal of treatment: A valid distinction?

The continuing debate over the deeply controversial issue of physician-assi sted suicide has been complicated by confusion about how this practice rese mbles or differs from refusal of life-sustaining treatment. Perspectives on ethics and policy hinge on the contested issue of whether a valid distinct ion can be made between assisted suicide and withdrawal of treatment. This paper uses three illustrative cases to examine leading arguments for and ag ainst the recognition of a fundamental distinction between these practices. The first case involves assisted suicide by ingestion of prescribed barbit urates, the second involves withdrawal of artificial nutrition arid hydrati on, and the third involves a decision to stop eating and drinking. On theor etical and practical grounds, this paper defends the position that there is a valid distinction between assisted suicide and refusal of treatment.