I will touch on 3 of the central ethical & public policy issues that divide those who are opposed to physician-assisted dying from those who are supportive of this practice. These are: 1) the moral distinction between actively hastening death & passively allowing to die; 2) how to interpret the Hippocratic tradition in medicine with respect to physician-assisted death; & 3) whether physician-assisted suicide can be effectively regulated. I shall summarize the arguments pro & con with respect to each issue, & also indicate my own position. (23 refs)