The Truelove friends promise to help each other die, if, and when, they decide that they want to end their life. Their pact is called “true love,” after the Cole Porter song immortalised by Bing Crosby, and in this context is a manifestation of their love for each other. He asks for help to end his life after he fails in a suicide attempt. In a few countries it’s possible to seek medically assisted dying if you live with a chronic incurable physical condition that causes unbearable pain or makes a dignified life impossible. A small proportion requests come from France and the UK.9 Over time, medically assisted dying has become an integral part of the work of some general practitioners and anaesthetists who work closely with palliative care teams.

Source: The Guardian February 06, 2024 11:25 UTC