Dying for money: overcoming moral hazard in terminal illnesses through compensated physician-assisted death

A major cause of spiralling health-care cost is aggressive treatment of major illnesses by health-care providers. The insured patient also demands such an expensive course of action because he pays only a small portion of the cost and is not given a more attractive alternative. If the patient is offered compensation to give up his de facto right to aggressive treatment, insurance premium can be reduced. Physician-assisted death with benefit conversion is discussed as a means for such an exchange.