Some years ago I received the following letter from a friend who became my patient.

In pursuit of my ultimate objective of being in control of my self-deliverance at the time when my physical condition no longer warrants continuance, I have joined the Hemlock Society of Los Angeles. The Society urges its members to explore with their personal physicians this subject well in advance of the actual moment of necessity, and in particular the problem of acquiring a lethal dose of a drug that will provide a release consistent in quality with the degree of peace and serenity sought in life. It is my hope that we can find a process commensurate with your moral and professional concerns which will allow us to collaborate.