The right to die and physician-assisted suicide medical, legal, and ethical aspects (Part I).

Part 1 of this paper examines the issue of the "Right to Die", and its relationship to the discipline of Bioethics and the doctrine of Informed Consent. The discussion underlines the role and rights of the patient. A number of relevant judgments are quoted, with their implications. Part 2, to be published in our next issue, continues the discussion, with emphasis on the subject of physician-assisted suicide and the activities of Dr. Kevorkian. Further legal cases are quoted with relevant analysis, together with proposed legislation under the title "Death with Dignity". Finally, the author points to possible future developments in this controversial issue.