If I had to guess what principle supports medically assisted suicide, it would be either the right to bodily autonomy, or the right of someone who is suffering to choose when and how they die.

But the one thing that I can’t in my mind get over is that, if it really is about bodily autonomy or the right for someone who is suffering to choose when they die, then that right should extend to every person no matter how big or small. We are created equal. No right should be reserved to one particular class of people.

If it’s about either of those things, then physician-assisted suicide should absolutely be available to physically healthy 20-year-olds with depression who want it. Why should it not? What principle could such a system be for? If they genuinely believe there is no way out and that they would rather die than suffer any longer, why should that right be denied to them but not an 80-year-old getting chemo treatments? Why treat one as more equal than the other?

If anything, I see things like that treated like conservative bogeymen. Of course it’s not for physically healthy 20-year-olds! That’s crazy talk! Of course fit 20-year-olds wouldn’t have that right.

Why not? I don’t understand why not or why it’s so crazy to think they would.

So what am I missing? What are these rights (privileges?) based on, and which people deserve them? Who should decide who gets them?