Want to see yet another example of where libertarianism and conservatism strongly part ways? Here you go. Conservatives would impose the judgement of a “moral” government to deny people their most fundamental right: that of self-ownership. “No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?”
Of course, liberals would demand that this all be paid for by tax money.
Free assisted suicide is a right! Spare me your cis-mortal platitudes of self-determination.
I gotta admit, assisted suicide gives me pause. Kill yourself all you want, but assisted suicide will sit atop some truly unpleasant incentives having to do with money. Hospice is expensive, vegetative patients are expensive, and there will always be in the back of the assister’s mind the fact that pulling the pin on somebody is going to save somebody else, maybe/probably their employer, that expense.
If you think these incentives are out there and need to be negated, well, now we’re talking about regulating assisted suicide. Because regulation always makes everything better. This could well wind up with actual death panels.
I see the argument for it, but I also see some potential problems.