Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia

Each volume of the Library in a Book series is carefully designed to be a complete first-stop resource for research on important issues and events, many of which strongly affect the United States. Clearly written and organized, the books give the researcher an objective overview of the subject and a wealth of information in a variety of formats, as well as an extensive section on additional sources -- from other books to videos to web sites. Each book includes: -- A historical survey of the topic -- A chronology of significant events -- Information on court cases and/or significant legislation -- Concise biographies of important people -- A glossary of terms, names, and acronyms -- An annotated bibliography (approximately one-third of the book) -- A list of relevant organizations -- A detailed index. The United States, and indeed the Western world, is bitterly divided on the issues of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. Legislators, judges, and ordinary citizens have become embroiled in the passionate battle over the right to die. Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia addresses a number of legal and ethical issues, such as the distinctions among refusal of life-prolonging treatment, the request for assistance in suicide, and the request for death actively caused by another person; who has the right to determine whether a person's life is worth living; the alternatives to assisted suicide and euthanasia; whether or not courts or legislatures have the power to overrule a competent adult's decision on the matter; the safeguards needed; and physicians' roles in the treatment of the terminally ill.