The buzz word doing the rounds in the debate about assisted suicide (aka assisted dying) is “autonomy”. What right does society have to tell a terminally ill person of sound mind that they are not free to choose the time of their own death, so as to avoid pain and indignity?

Jeremy Bentham distinguished between what he called “derogatory” and “eulogistic” words, in short between “boo” and “hurray” words. “Autonomy” is certainly among the latter, as is “choice”. Who could be against them? It may not be ideal that the debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which is expected to reach its crucial stage this week, should be reduced to such simple terms. But this is how many people see it. And they are not entirely wrong, though they would also see the truth of the saying, “Your right to swing your fist stops at the beginning of my nose.” In other words, autonomy is a good thing – but it has its limits.

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