The euthanasia / assisted-suicide debate

Merciful ending or death on demand? The euthanasia and assisted-suicide debate challenges our most deeply held ethical and religious convictions about human life and dignity. 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, media portrayals, 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 debate, the involvement of such physicians as Timothy Quill and Anna Pou, the history and significance of medical technology and practice, and the role of patients and their families in the ongoing controversy and in effecting legal change. This illuminating exploration of concepts, issues, and players will help readers understand both sides of the debate as viewed by participants. - Back cover.