I suffer from an inheritable condition which might shorten my life span if left untreated. My doctor has prescribed me a drug which, as it happens, might have adverse effects on my mental capacity; for instance, it might bring about amnesia and mild cognitive impairment. The minutiae of my particuar situation are not significant; what is interesting is the ethical question the general situation raises: Are we obligated to do what we can to stay alive for as long as possible, or may we—if the prior option necessitates potentially adverse effects on an aspect of life we hold dear—choose not to? And if the latter is true, does this translate to all other situations of this kind? As an example, consider the case of a smoker who refuses to give up smoking, regardless of the risk involved, because of the pleasure the act of smoking confers upon her. Her family and friends naturally wish for her to stay alive and remain healthy for as long as is possible—do their concern outweigh the pleasure she takes in the consumption of tobacco?