Most Americans say the state should not interfere. Forty percent said that in such a position they would consider suicide themselves.
Most states consider it a crime to assist another person to commit suicide.
But the law is unclear in a number of states. In nine states and the District of Columbia court rulings and tradition have defined assisted suicide as a crime. The law is unclear in five states. Assisted suicide is clearly unlawful in the remaining 35 states. Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will take up the matter and hear cases from Oregon and New York.