Depression and Assisted Dying

This chapter examines the relationship between depression and assisted dying, or euthanasia, by drawing on the metaphor of a ‘black dog’ being ‘put to sleep’. Focusing on English law, it argues that the law has been guilty of obfuscation in its dealings with assisted dying. The chapter proceeds by discussing situations involving compassionate killing and the notion that medically assisted dying should no longer be prohibited in England. The chapter considers two arguments for medically assisted dying, one premised on respect for autonomy and the other tethered to the obligation to remove suffering. Sometimes, in the so-called bare choice argument, the former claim dominates; elsewhere, the claims are conjoined to form the understandable choice argument. However, the chapter argues for straight-talking about assisted dying and emphasizes the need to consider the rightful limits of such a policy and whether it could—or should—extend to the depressed.