One day, I will likely die from the same incurable, degenerative disease that killed my mother, so Right To Die is a topic close to my heart. I will probably one day have to decide between being ventilated, or dying, as my brain forgets the unconscious motions that govern my breathing. Surely, I should have the right to end my life before my quality of life is dramatically reduced by motor neurone disease? This book is an empathic look at the issue. Prepare to think, be challenged, and probably shed a few tears along the way.

The debate around the right to die has long been one that I've been particularly interested in, and yet rarely have I read about it outside of newspapers and blogs. And so as soon as I read the synopsis of this book, I knew I wanted to read it. And I wasn't disappointed. Engelhart has produced an informative, nuanced, careful consideration of both sides of the debate, and created a book that is gripping, troubling, moving, and highly emotional. The inclusion of real life stories makes this book even more emotive, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the topic of assisted suicide.

Ever since my law degree I have been interested in the topic of euthanasia, assisted suicide and assisted dying; these are often used interchangeably but are in actuality different. Under Section I Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) (formally the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms) we are granted the 'Right to Life'. So, it can be argued, why don't we have the Right to Die? Why should others who don't feel or understand the pain of the conditions some people face on a daily basis be allowed to decide that we should be kept alive and our life prolonged with endless drugs, treatments operations and so forth? I think there's also an argument that Article 3 of the ECHR —prohibition of torture—which states that one shall not be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, could be argued as coming into play in situations where people are suffering terribly due to drugs companies and the medical field prolonging the inevitable. We should have the autonomy to make this difficult decision ourselves and on our own terms.

A growing list of countries now allow assisted dying in one form or another and I hope this list continues to grow; of course, the correct safeguards should be in place and the strict criteria met to deter individuals from abusing or playing the system. This is a compelling and beautifully written investigation into the Right to Die movement exploring a delicate topic that has the potential to be divisive. Award-winning journalist Katie Engelhart explores one of our most abiding taboos: that of assisted dying. From Avril, the 80-year-old British woman illegally importing pentobarbital, to the Australian doctor dispensing suicide manuals online, Engelhart travels the world to hear the stories behind this contentious moral dilemma. At once intensely troubling and profoundly moving, The Inevitable interrogates our most uncomfortable moral questions. Should a paralyzed teenager be allowed to end her life? Should we be free to die painlessly before dementia takes our mind? But the book also does something more. In examining our end, it sheds crucial light on what it means to flourish and live. Highly recommended.

I’m interested in the debate around assisted dying and this detailed look at its place in the world is certainly thought-provoking.
Engelhart has travelled the world meeting people who work to help others take their lives, through to those who want to illegally import the drugs they need to end their suffering.
The author addresses questions such as: should people with a mental illness be helped, through to what means is least painful and how to illegally import the drugs.
This isn’t a quick or easy read but it is insightful and well-researched and well-written.
Recommended.

A riveting, incisive, and wide-ranging book about the Right to Die movement, and the doctors, patients, and activists at the heart of this increasingly urgent issue.

As a nurse who has worked in emergency care, palliative care, and now intensive care, the storyline resonated well with me. This book is very thought-provoking and full of feeling. It does not matter which side of the debate you are on, it is worth a read. The author is straight to the point and makes you look at your own views and feelings and appreciate how you may feel if you were in the same situation as those she talks about.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of her work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Thought-provoking and full of feeling.

It makes you look inward at your own views and personal preferences, whilst trying to understand that of others, in various different positions and stages of life.

It took me a while to get through this book. Purely because the subject matter is so intense and sensitive. Katie Engelhart's writing is very matter of fact and to the point, which I actually think is needed. Less fussing around and trying to avoid the subject.

An interesting read, no matter which side of the debate you stand.