This book addresses key historical, scientific, legal, and philosophical issues surrounding euthanasia and assisted suicide in the United States as well as in other countries and cultures.Euthanasia was practiced by Greek physicians as early as 500 BC. In the 20th century, legal and ethical controversies surrounding assisted dying exploded. Many religions and medical organizations led the way in opposition, citing the incompatibility of assisted dying with various religious traditions and with the obligations of medical personnel toward their patients. Today, these practices remain highly controversial both in the United States and around the world.Comprising contributions from an international group of experts, this book thoroughly investigates euthanasia and assisted suicide from an interdisciplinary and global perspective. It presents the ethical arguments for and against assisted dying; highlights how assisted dying is perceived in various cultural and philosophical traditions—for example, South and East Asian cultures, Latin American perspectives, and religions including Islam and Christianity; and considers how assisted dying has both shaped and been shaped by the emergence of professionalized bioethics. Readers will also learn about the most controversial issues related to assisted dying, such as pediatric euthanasia, assisted dying for organ transplantation, and "suicide tourism," and examine concerns relating to assisted dying for racial minorities, children, and the disabled.
Michael J. Cholbi, PhD, is professor of philosophy at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
IntroductionMichael J. CholbiPart I History, Practice, and LawChapter 1 Physician-Assisted Dying and the Law in the United States: A Perspective on Three Prospective FuturesArthur G. SvensonChapter 2 The Assisted Dying Bill for England and WalesRaphael Cohen-AlmagorChapter 3 Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: Attitudes and Polices in MexicoAsunción Álvarez del Río, Julieta Gómez Ávalos, and Isaac González HuertaChapter 4 Suffering, Compassion, and Freedom: Mahayana Buddhism and East Asian Attitudes Toward Assisted Suicide and EuthanasiaBrett BarleymanChapter 5 The Continental Perspective on Assisted Suicide and EuthanasiaJack SimmonsChapter 6 Christian Perspectives on Assisted Dying: An Issue for Religious Ethics121Lloyd SteffenPart II Ethics and PolicyChapter 7 Ethical Evaluation of Euthanasia in the Islamic TraditionTuba Erkoç Baydar and Ilhan IlkilicChapter 8 An Argument in Favor of the Morality of Voluntary Medically Assisted DeathRobert YoungChapter 9 Limiting the Right to Die: Moral Logic, Professional Integrity, Societal EthosCourtney S. CampbellChapter 10 Respect for Personal Autonomy in the Justification of Death-Hastening ChoicesPaul T. MenzelChapter 11 Intention, Permissibility, and the Consistency of Traditional End-of-Life CareJoseph BoyleChapter 12 Assisted Dying and PalliationBen A. RichChapter 13 Capacity and Assisted DyingColin GavaghanChapter 14 Advance Directives for EuthanasiaEric VogelsteinChapter 15 Pediatric EuthanasiaJacob M. AppelChapter 16 Traveling for Assisted SuicideI. Glenn CohenAbout the Editor and ContributorsIndex
Overall this title is an accessible and cogent introduction to the topic. . . . VERDICT A worthwhile addition for academic collections, especially for health sciences/medical students and upper-level undergraduates.