Dr. Foley argues two basic positions, a need to improve patient care for pain and suffering and a need to forego the legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia. From a patient's perspective I believe that Dr. Foley's discussion concerning the need to improve patient care for pain and suffering is directly on point and essentially accurate in almost every respect. Her treatment of that issue deserves the highest marks, and the compassion, commitment, and care that she describes is exactly what I believe most patients want from their physicians. At the same time, I cannot agree with her view that the option of assisted suicide and euthanasia should be withheld from patients. Regardless of how diligent she and other compassionate health care providers are in pursuing the goal of improved patient care for pain and suffering, it is realistic to expect that a significant amount of neglect and incompetence on the part of health care providers will persist. The principles of compassion, justice, and autonomy require that patients whose pain and suffering cannot be adequately managed or who have been unable to access competent care be provided with a merciful way out. For many years physicians in this country have practiced physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in secret. In Europe, Dr. Sigmund Freud requested and received assistance in dying from his own physician. We are presently confronted with the question of whether physician-assisted suicide will remain available only to those who are able to obtain help as a result of their wealth, power, influence, position, connections, or luck, or whether it will also be legalized and available to the ordinary man and to the ordinary woman who would like a merciful end to their own pain and suffering. Autonomy is a two-way street and a physician who does not wish to assist his or her patients with suicide or euthanasia should certainly have the right to refuse. At the same time the physician should respect the autonomy of other physicians who want to honor their patients' requests for assistance in dying. Francis Bacon wrote, “I esteem it the office of a physician not only to restore health, but to mitigate pain and dolours; and not only when such mitigation may conduce to recovery, but when it may serve to make a fair and easy passage.” 1 If Dr. Foley's recommendations are heeded by the health care profession, patient pain and suffering will be greatly reduced, as will the need for legalizing assisted suicide and euthanasia. However, patients who continue to experience unbearable pain and suffering should be allowed the right to obtain assistance in dying. Existing laws prevent only one class of individuals from exercising the option of rational suicide, that class being individuals who are too ill or too disabled to take their own life. If necessary, all others can choose death as a means to escape pain and suffering, regardless of legalities. Dr. Foley points out that suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. With physician- assisted suicide legalized, the health care profession would have better opportunities to counsel with more individuals who are contemplating suicide and hopefully help them obtain adequate relief from pain and suffering. Every individual is born with the right to control his or her own body. It is unacceptable to prohibit a patient from obtaining help from qualified and compassionate individuals who are willing to assist him in dying. As the philosopher Seneca stated, “Just as I chose a ship to sail in or a house to live in, so I choose a death for my passage from life … Nowhere should we indulge the soul more than in dying … A man's life should satisfy other people as well, his death only himself, and whatever sort he likes best.”3