Is there a right to die?

Is assisted death really compassionate?

Are we sleepwalking into a moral disaster?

In Do Not Go Gentle, acclaimed writer and philosopher Kathleen Stock tackles one of the great debates of our time: should we set up a system of assisted death? With her trademark sharp thinking and dry wit, the bestselling author of Material Girls argues that despite what some progressives might tell you, assisted death will not give a person more “freedom” or “control” over their lives. Whether you have a terminal illness, are in chronic pain, or are disabled, being able to ask your doctor to kill you fundamentally changes society’s attitude towards the vulnerable – and in a sinister direction.

Life is complex. For some individuals, an assisted death might be the right choice. But we should be deeply wary of introducing a system that offers death as just another option, especially when palliative care is so under-resourced. Expertly marshalling the arguments, Stock’s laser polemic cuts through the wishful thinking and clouded reasoning that surrounds the issue and reaffirms life, rather than death, as what we should be fighting for. Collectively, we should rage against the dying of the light.

Praise

‘Do Not Go Gentle is a bracing, often chilling wrestle with the ethical dilemmas surrounding the assisted death service – a deeply unsettling read, clear and powerful. Kathleen Stock remains fearless, endlessly thought-provoking and always entertaining.’
Nick Cave

‘With characteristic clarity, Kathleen Stock dissects the starry-eyed case for legalising assisted suicide, and warns against the socially corrosive realities of its institutionalisation. She adds a fresh voice to a well rehearsed public controversy.’
Nigel Biggar

‘In an overheated and often bitter debate, it is very welcome to have a contribution like this – shaped not just by intense feeling, nor by any sort of ideological absolutism, but a clear, careful, evidence-based case for caution around the legalization of assisted dying. It deserves wide attention, whichever side of the debate you find yourself on.’
Rowan Williams

‘Whatever side you are on in this debate, this is the one book on the topic that you should read.’
John Milbank, Emeritus Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Nottingham

‘With characteristic clarity and calm, Kathleen Stock has cut through the fetish of choice and revealed the meaning of ‘assisted dying.’ We should all be grateful. Long live Kathleen Stock.’
Lord Glasman, author of Blue Labour: Politics and the Common Good

‘A timely analysis of a vital topic.’
Jesse Norman