Physician-assisted suicide is one of the most controversial issues facing h
ealth care providers today, provoking contentious debate that spans medical
, psychological, legal, religious, and moral realms. Despite the wealth of
theories and opinions proffered, most of this work focuses on concepts of i
ndividual competence and autonomy, with little or no attention paid to the
dynamics of family or other psychosocial systems likely to affect an indivi
dual's decision to ask for assistance in ending his or her life. Moreover,
concepts such as "autonomy" typically are examined from a legal perspective
without consideration of the late-life developmental themes confronting ol
der adults and their families, that is, the stage of life cycle transition
and the predictable family stresses that typically accompany serious illnes
s.