I think an adult is entitled to end their own life for any reason at any time. Even if they are perfectly healthy. What you do with your own life is entirely your business. And, if you could get a doctor to offer a more peaceful death than many of the forms of suicide available, I say let it be done. As for my personal definition of 'life', it's fairly simple: If you able to function and survive without assistance (either life support or the physical support of another human being) you are 'alive'. If you're reliant on machines in a hospital, you're no longer 'alive'. If someone chooses to maintain you in that state until you recover, that is up to them, but I don't believe there is any obligation for care at that point. If no one wants to care for you, then I think they are entitled to pull the plug. Same applies to those who are disabled. I don't believe they are owed care. It's merely a choice someone might make to help them. The only time care is 'owed' is if you choose to subscribe to and support a 'society'. (Which obviously includes healthcare, etc.) If you are on a machine beyond what your support to society has covered, it's time for the plug to be pulled. When it comes to babies, while they are in the womb - and therefore reliant on an existing 'host' - they are not 'alive' nor do they have any rights. The host has all the rights, including the right to kill the parasite / baby / fetus / person. Call it whatever you want. Even if it is a fully thinking, functioning, feeling human being, I'd still say the host has full rights. Nothing that relies on MY body for survival has more (or even equal) rights. For me, life is absolutely tied to independence / ability. Personally, I'd extend the right of the host to eliminate the parasite / baby even after the birth up to a year or so old. But that's just me. My definition of life is mostly about being 'able'. If you cannot survive in basic ways on your own and are reliant on someone (or a machine), you are not 'alive'. So, to go by my own rules, if I become unable to care for myself, I have no right to expect someone else to care for me - except for the healthcare provided within the society I actively engage in and support. If I choose to no longer support said society, I have no right to expect any help whatsoever. I realise my ideas will probably go down like a ton of bricks with a lot of people, but to each his own. As long as I am prepared to apply the rules mercilessly to myself, I think it's fair enough. Most people love to set down stringent guidelines but rarely seem to actually apply them to themselves. I am essentially the type who believes in - shall we say - the survival of the able-bodied and the mentally functional. I wouldn't actively cull the useless, but I certainly wouldn't support them beyond public healthcare, which is a perk I like for myself and which I see as the primary benefit for everybody of society. Aside from that universal safety net, they will get no help from me and I will expect no help in return. No rights for parasites.