The desire for death among 200 terminal cancer patients, its stability over time & its association with psychiatric disorders was examined. 44.5% of patients wished that death would come soon; however, only 17% of these patients acknowledged a serious & pervasive desire to die. This desire was correlated with pain, low family support, & most significantly with depression. Informed debate about euthanasia should recognize the inherent transience of many patients’ expressed desire to die.