I think this is a great idea, and is *exactly* the sort of thing humanity should be doing, and should have been doing a long time ago. Personally, I'm hoping this is universally adopted through the world, and isn't derailled by petty religious dogma.

Afterall, we see fit to put down our pets when their life is in terminal decline or quality of life has dropped to unacceptable levels, yet we don't extend the same compasion to ourselves? The irony being that our pets can't (verbally) communicate their wishes, whereas a human being can communicate their rational decision about how and when to die.