I think in both cases, the driving force behind it is compassion to other human beings. Needless suffering is truly an awful thing. As I found out in Dying Well, which is an amazing book, is that sometimes extreme pain is so severe it can't even be treated properly. In some cases, medically-assisted suicide might be the best way for a very sick individual to take control of their own destiny.

In the case of mandating healthcare, it's not that I think people should have the choice of whether or not to participate in the system, it's just that the rest of us can't go on just letting our fellow citizens die when they get severely injured. It's just unthinkable.