The only moral theory that doesn’t seem to run aground on this issue is the feminine ethic. Clearly, if the individual in question truly wants to die, the only reason that exists for not permitting this is our own desire to remain in the company of the individual, however many layers of principle we may try to wrap it in. The empathic route would be to come to terms with this and let go. Of course, simply because it is not morally wrong does not make it easy to come to terms with, which may be why the controversy rages on.

Having explored these various ethics, one thing seems abundantly clear: understanding them all is much more helpful in making moral decisions than understanding none of them, regardless of which we agree with. This suggests that the right course may be a course which cannot be directly argued against by any theory, either because the theory supports it or because it is incapable of refuting it. Each new idea gives us one more concept to consider, leading to, if nothing else, at least a better thought-out mistake. We may never solve all our moral dilemmas — indeed, we may never decide whether or not there even is a correct solution — but any progress we have made so far has only been made by giving ourselves more to think about.