The Last Word

"Someone who persistently, day after day, says, no thank you, I'd rather die, that kind of persistence would lend someone like me to think that this is much more the kind of case that we'd want to give that kind of autonomy [to choose to be assisted in a suicide]."

As for the decision by Final Exit Network's exit guides not to contact Jana's family ahead of time about her suicidal plans, Appel argues that "assuming the woman is otherwise competent, then it's a perfectly reasonable request not to tell the family. People ask their physicians all the time, 'Don't share this with my family. They'll think it's a terrible idea.'

courtesy of Wesley J. Smith

Pundit Wesley Smith on the Van Voorhis case: "It?s obvious that she needed mental help. It?s very sad."

courtesy of Jacob M. Appel

Bioethicist Jacob Appel says the Van Voorhis case raises several cutting-edge issues.

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"The reason it's an issue here is there are indications that the woman might not have been competent at all, and that probably would have called for some follow-up or a back out [by the exit guides]. This is why you don't want people taking the law into their own hands."

Appel says he's worried that the revelations published in "Death Wish" will tarnish the efforts of people like him, who strongly support the idea of physician-assisted suicide.

"I also think it's important to remember that the people who assist in suicides get no joy out it," he says. "They generally are well-intentioned and are doing it out of compassion, trying to help. Whatever the outcome of the [Van Voorhis] case is, I think we should temper justice with a lot of mercy."