Mary Jones has a severe case of cerebral palsy. She has spent twenty-eight years of life trying to cope with the varying disabilities it caused. She can get around somewhat in her motorized wheelchair. An aide feeds her and takes care of her small apartment. She went to junior college and earned a degree in sociology. She also has a mechanism whereby she can type on a computer. However, she has lately become weary with life. She sees no improvement ahead and wants to die. She has been receiving pain pills from her doctor. Now, she asks for several weeks' worth of prescriptions so that she will not have to return for more so often. Her doctor suspects that she might be suicidal.
Should Mary Jones's doctor continue giving her the pills? Why or why not? Would she be assisting in Mary's suicide if she did? Should Mary have a right to end her life if she chooses? Why or why not? Should her physician actually be able to administer some death-causing drug and not just provide the pills? Why or why not?