The term ‘good death’ is the English translation for the Greek word ‘euthanasia’. Syme argues that this kind of death is preferable to the often protracted deaths of patients who are either terminally ill or have what Syme calls a ‘hopeless illness’. The fact that medical practitioners are not legally allowed to assist such patients to die is, Syme suggests, a result of unhelpful and often hypocritical attitudes about life and death. Throughout his text, Syme displays considerable sympathy for sufferers of painful and debilitating illnesses. Syme does not advocate ‘euthanasia on demand’, as the journalist Pamela Bone (who herself recently died from cancer) puts it in her foreword.

Nevertheless, Syme’s argument has some distinct shortcomings. For instance, he points out that euthanasia should be an option for ‘a rational, fully formed individual’. He never explains how the opaque terms ‘rational’ and ‘fully formed’ are to be understood. More disturbingly, Syme displays a dismissive attitude towards palliative care as it is currently practised. This attitude can be witnessed in statements such as ‘The palliative care process is necessarily one of intrusiveness and involvement by a variety of people previously unknown to the [patient]’.

Syme raises many other issues pertaining to death and suffering throughout his text. Some of these issues are adequately addressed, while others are not. A Good Death is not the last word in the euthanasia debate, but it is best approached as another contribution to this debate.