--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think those who have a terminal illness…" description: "\"I think those who have a terminal illness and are in great pain should have the right to choose to end their own life, and those that help them should ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/stephen-hawking-389_free_i-think-those-who-have-a-terminal-illnes_869791.jpg" --- # I think those who have a terminal illness and are in great… ![“I think those who have a terminal illness and are in great pain should have the right to choose to end their own life, and those that help them should be free from prosecution.” quote by Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/stephen-hawking-389_free_i-think-those-who-have-a-terminal-illnes_869791.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/stephen-hawking-389_free_i-think-those-who-have-a-terminal-illnes_869791.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/stephen-hawking-389_free_i-think-those-who-have-a-terminal-illnes_869791.jpg) > “I think those who have a terminal illness and are in great pain should have the right to choose to end their own life, and those that help them should be free from prosecution.” [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates for assisted dying rights for terminally ill in unbearable pain, urging legal protection for helpers. **In simple terms:** Support right to end life for terminally ill in pain, protect helpers. Key Takeaway Legalize assisted death, protect caregivers. Themes ethics autonomy end‑of‑life law compassion Mood somber reflective Type ethical political When to use this quote - Hospitals - palliative care - legislative debates - family decision‑making Key Concepts Human rights medical ethics legal policy Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards ensure voluntary choice? - How to balance autonomy with societal values? A Different Perspective Opposition cites potential for abuse and moral objections. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Prosecution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosecution/) [Terminal illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terminal-illness/) ## Related quotes > [Like the experience of warfare, the endurance of grave or terminal illness involves long periods of tedium and anxiety, punctuated by briefer interludes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/like-the-experience-of-warfare-the-endurance-of-grave-or-terminal/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [There's probably no experience more alienating than fame, other than a terminal illness, where you actually find yourself in a situation that nobody around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/there-s-probably-no-experience-more-alienating-than-fame-other-than-a/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [I did not fully understand the dread term 'terminal illness' until I saw Heathrow for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-potter/i-did-not-fully-understand-the-dread-term-terminal-illness-until-i/) [Dennis Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-potter/) > [We've all got a terminal illness. 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