It has emerged that Israeli-American psychologist and Nobel Laureate in Economics, Daniel Kahneman, ended his life on March 27, 2024, using the method of assisted suicide at a clinic in Switzerland. But what exactly is assisted suicide and how does it differ from euthanasia?

In an article by Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Zweig, it was mentioned that Kahneman only shared this decision with his family and a few close friends. The article stated that Kahneman sent an email to his relatives on March 26, 2024, explaining the details of his decision and informing them that he was heading to Switzerland to end his life at a clinic using the method of assisted suicide. The article quoted Kahneman’s email saying, “This is a farewell letter that I am sending to my loved ones. I am going to Switzerland, and on March 27, my life will come to an end. Since my youth, I have believed that the difficulties and struggles of the later years of life are unnecessary, and now I am putting this belief into practice.” The article also mentioned that Kahneman decided to end his life while his health was relatively good and before his condition deteriorated further, and he did not wish for this decision to become a public matter. His friends emphasized that this decision was consistent with his research.

Daniel Kahneman, the author of the book “Thinking, Fast and Slow” and an Israeli-American psychologist, passed away at the age of 90 on March 27, 2024. His mental and physical health was better compared to others his age. Kahneman won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2002 for his pioneering work in cognitive psychology and behavioral economics.

WHAT IS ASSISTED SUICIDE?

Assisted suicide is a form of euthanasia. Euthanasia is generally a method used to relieve the suffering of patients with incurable illnesses, carried out with the intervention of doctors. In assisted suicide, patients take the prescribed medication themselves under medical supervision to end their lives. This method is most commonly practiced in Switzerland.