Should We Legalize Assisted Suicide?

In this episode of Honestly, Bari Weiss moderates a heated debate between David Hoffman, a healthcare attorney and bioethicist, and Dr. Lydia Dugdale, a physician and medical ethicist, on the topic of physician-assisted suicide, also known as Medical Aid in Dying (MAID). The discussion centers on a proposed Medical Aid in Dying Act in New York, which would allow terminally ill adults to access life-ending medication. Hoffman argues for the compassionate option of MAID, while Dugdale expresses concerns about the violation of physicians' oaths and the potential expansion of access, referencing experiences in other countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, and Canada. The debate covers terminology, safeguards, the criteria for accessing MAID, mental health considerations, and the potential consequences of legalizing the practice, including the impact on vulnerable populations and the role of physicians.