The point of the article is that in Canada at least, many people go through with it.

I think the reason people don't end up killing themselves is that actually committing suicide is technically difficult, and terrifying. If one doesn't have access to specific drugs, how does one do it without making a horrible mess that their loved ones would have to clean up?

Even if one can somehow avoid the mess, suicide tells the people who are left behind that one chose death over them; it's a terrible message that most people, justifiably, don't want to send.

A medical decision that leaves little to no trail is a much better outcome for everyone.

According to https://theconversation.com/in-places-where-its-legal-how-ma... (as of 2019) between 0.3% and 4.6% of all deaths are assisted suicide or euthanasia in jurisdictions where it’s legal.

The paper they report on further notes:

pain is not the main motivation for PAS (physician-assisted suicide)… The dominant motives are loss of autonomy and dignity and being less able to enjoy life’s activities.

>Almost no one goes through with it.

I don't necessarily share OP's sentiment, and I think it's great that people don't go through with it, but I strongly believe that the option should legally be afforded to them.

How is this knowable when barely anyone has access to assisted suicide outside of a few small states/countries? And even then, drooling does not qualify in most.

OP mentioned various alternatives.

Assuming you are referring to:

>I will buy a gun, or jump off a bridge, or freeze to death, or O.D. on heroin, or something else if I have to. But I shouldn't have to.

Those are not equivalent to the experience of dying with assisted suicide.

Overdosing on heroin very much is. You’ll leave an uglier corpse given the blackening of the extremities but you fall asleep and then you suffocate.

Everyone is different, some people have a very difficult time dealing with even minor issues. Also, based on the way most people live their lives, I don’t think the average person truly understands what’s ahead, or if they do, pretend they’ll magically escape it. Personally, I am fine with my future regardless of what happens, but it’s not surprising to me some either don’t want to grow old or are caught off guard by the reality of old age.