The Euthanasia/Assisted-Suicide Debate (Historical Guides to Controversial Issues in America)

This revealing volume explores recent historical perspectives on the modern euthanasia and assisted-suicide debate and the political arenas in which it has unfolded.

Emotional public responses to widely publicized right-to-die and euthanasia cases, such as those revolving around Dr. Jack Kevorkian and Terri Schiavo, highlight their volatile mix of medical, ethical, religious, legal, and public policy issues. The Euthanasia/Assisted-Suicide Debate explores how this debate has evolved over the past 100 years as judicial approaches, legislative responses, and prosecutorial practices have shifted as a result of changes in medical technology and consumer sophistication.

Emphasizing the period from the 1950s forward, the book offers an unbiased examination of the origins of the modern medical euthanasia and assisted-suicide debates, the involvement of physicians, the history and significance of medical technology and practice, and the role of patients and their families in the ongoing controversy. This illuminating exploration of concepts, issues, and players will help readers understand both sides of the debate as viewed by participants.

• Case studies explain contemporary legal techniques in the handling of euthanasia and assisted-suicide prosecutions, including those involving doctors, nurses, and family members

• A chronology shows political events and major cases of medical euthanasia and assisted suicide over the past 100 years

• A glossary explains key terms, such as "causation," "intent," "palliative care," and "double effect"

• An interdisciplinary bibliography cites significant materials from the fields of history, law, and sociology, as well as major medical journal articles