Medical technology has greatly extended American lives, though patients' final days or months are often spent on artificial life-support systems.
Death often follows a medical decision to withdraw treatment.
Some are demanding a larger role for patients in making decisions about the time and manner of their deaths. Lawmakers and jurists are wrestling with this question, and they need to know what approach Americans want to take. Above All, Sustain Life Patients dying in pain have a right to choose the time and circumstances of their death. But society must regulate this humane practice to prevent abuse. Too many patients suffer from needless pain, depression, and unwanted treatment.