Flickr User: Hibr

Amy was 41 years old when she went into her garage and let the fumes from the tailpipe of her car snuff out her life. Amy, a real estate agent, was my wife's second cousin and we lost touch with her a few years ago when the government-caused meltdown of the housing market put her into a depression from which she obviously did not recover.

I understand suicide. I certainly believe it is appropriate in cases of unbearable, interminable physical pain. And while some of us may not understand suicide due to depression, I believe the mental anguish caused by perceived hopelessness is just as painful as that from a physical source.

I'm not saying we shouldn't care if depressed people kill themselves, certainly we should encourage treatment for them, but for some people treatment won't turn hopelessness into joie de vivre, or bring back a dead child, or pay the rent. For such people whose lives are congested with darkness, pain, illness, and loss, perhaps it is far more cruel to keep them from the quiet peace of death. So, yes, I'm in favor of doctor assisted-suicide, see my article And a cup of Euthanasia please.