Death with dignity: A tripartite legal response

In attempting to provide a remedy to the legal problems confronting both the terminally ill patient and health care provider, three legal vehicles have been advanced for consideration and implementation-the living will, the antidysthanasia contract, and right to die legislation. Of the three, right to die legislation has proven to be the most effective in permitting the terminally ill patient to have a significant role in determining the time and manner of death. This article provides a descriptive overview of the legal problems that attend medical treatment of the terminally ill patient as well as a careful analysis of the legal vehicles that have been offered in response to these problems.