Euthanasia: A Reference Handbook / Edition 2

by Jennifer Fecio McDougall, Martha Gorman

Overview

This timely work is a balanced overview of end-of-life issues related to euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Except for the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, there are no U.S. laws that allow physicians to assist patients in hastening death. Many who support physician-assisted suicide ask, "Why not?" After all, the Netherlands permits both euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, and polls suggest that many Americans want that choice available to them.

Euthanasia: A Reference Handbook, Second Edition explores that question through a balanced, thoughtful discussion of the legal, medical, and spiritual components of end-of-life questions. What are the potential pitfalls of legalizing assisted suicide? How can the expenses of a lingering death impact an uninsured family? How would physician-assisted suicide impact healthcare costs? Through its objective exploration of these issues, as well as its historical and international perspective, this volume helps readers answer the difficult questions related to the end of life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781598841213
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/20/2007
Series:	Contemporary World Issues
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.69(d)

About the Author

Jennifer Fecio McDougall is a professional writer based in Buffalo, NY.

Martha Gorman is a professional writer based in Buffalo, NY. Her published works include the first edition of ABC-CLIO's Euthanasia: A Reference Handbook.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter 1 Background and History
History of Euthanasia
Attitudes toward Euthanasia throughout History
The History of Euthanasia Becomes Personal
Examining the Issue
Medical-Bioethical
Spiritual-Social-Cultural
Legal-Political
Chapter 2 Problems, Controversies, and Solutions
Problems, Controversies, and Solutions Related to End-of-Life Issues
Differentiating Between Key Concepts
Medical-Bioethical Issues
Spiritual-Social-Cultural Issues
Legal-Political Issues
Chapter 3 Worldwide Perspective
Examining Euthanasia throughout the World
United Kingdom
Netherlands
Australia
Africa
Canada
France
Germany
Japan
China
Belgium
Colombia
Chapter 4 Chronology
Chapter 5 Biographical Sketches
Janet Adkins
Dr. Pieter Admiraal
Kevin Andrews
Dr. Margaret Pabst Battin
Pope Benedict XVI
Dr. Daniel Callahan
Diane Coleman
Nancy Cruzan
Dr. Kathleen Foley
Dr. Faye Girsh
Dr. Herbert Hendin
Vincent Humbert
Derek Humphry
Pope John Paul II
Dr. Jack Kevorkian
Dr. Elisabeth Kübler Ross
Luis Kutner
Yale Kamisar
Barbara Coombs Lee
Rita Marker
Dr. Philip Nitschke
Dr. Edmund Pellegrino
Dr. Gertruida Potsma
Dr. Timothy Quill
Karen Ann Quinlan
Dr. James Rachels
Dame Cicely Saunders
Terri Schindler Schiavo
Wesley J. Smith
Joni Eareckson Tada
Thomas Youk
Chapter 6 Data and Documents
Examining Facts, Data, and Documents Relevant to Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide
Facts and Data
Medical-Bioethical
Spiritual-Social-Cultural
Legal-Political
Documents
Medical-Bioethical
Spiritual-Social-Cultural
Legal-Political
Quotations
Medical-Bioethical
Spiritual-Social-Cultural
Legal-Political
Chapter 7 Directory of Organizations
Organizations in the United States
Organizations Overseas
Chapter 8 Resources
Resources to Assist in the Study of Euthanasia
Print Resources
Nonprint Resources
Databases
Internet Sites
Glossary
Index
About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

McDougall's and Gorman's book is recommended for school and public libraries.” —ARBA

“Recommended. All academic, medical, and large public libraries; all levels.” —Choice

“The second updated edition of Euthanasia is a recommended pick for high school to college-level libraries…” —Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher