Table of Contents
Foreword 11
Introduction 14
Chapter 1 Should Assisted Suicide Be Legal?
Overview: Americans' Views on Legalizing Assisted Suicide David Masci 19
Yes: Assisted Suicide Should Be Legal People Have the Right to Commit Suicide Thomas Bowden 24
Physician-Assisted Death Should Be a Last Resort Option Timothy E. Quill 27
Parents Should Have the Right to Choose Assisted Suicide for Their Children Jacob M. Appel 40
No: Assisted Suicide Should Not Be Legal There Is No Justification for Legalizing Euthanasia Peter C. Glover 45
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Should Not Be Legal Rita L. Marker Kathi Hamlon 50
The Euthanasia of Children Should Not Be Allowed Wesley J. Smith 60
Chapter 2 Is Assisted Suicide Moral?
Overview: Americans' Views on the Morality of Assisted Suicide Joseph Carroll 65
It Is Compassionate to Permit Assisted Suicide A.C. Grayling 68
It Is Merciful to Help a Terminally Ill Person Die Margery Fridstein 72
Rejecting Physican-Assisted Suicide in All Situations Relies on Faulty Moral Reasoning Constantine A. Manthous 78
Active Euthanasia Is Never Morally Justified Doug McManaman 88
Chapter 3 Does Assisted Suicide Lead to Abuses?
Chapter Preface 95
Yes: Assisted Suicide Leads to Abuses
Assisted Suicide Puts People with Disabilities at the Greatest Risk Mark P. Mostert 97
Decriminalizing Assisted Suicide Will Result in the Failure to Prosecute Killers Wesley J. Smith 109
People Will Be Encouraged to Die Because of Health Care Costs Daniel Allott 115
No: Assisted Suicide Does Not Lead to Abuses
The Legalization of Assisted Suicide Does Not Lead to a Slippery Slope Arthur Schafer 119
Failing to Allow Assisted Suicide Results in Unnecessary Tragedies Gary Cartwright 123
Chapter 4 Does Assisted Suicide Work Well Where It Is Legal?
Overview: Legal Assisted Suicide in the United States Brad Knickerbocker 130
Yes: Assisted Suicide Works Well Where It Is Legal
Assisted Suicide Works Well in Oregon Kathryn L. Tucker 133
Legal Assisted Suicide in Oregon Has Led to Improved Palliative Care Courtney S. Campbell 138
No: Assisted Suicide Does Not Work Well Where It Is Legal
Assisted Suicide in Oregon Does Not Have Adequate Safeguards Oregon Right to Life 149
Assisted Suicide in the Netherlands Has Expanded to Active Euthanasia Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund 153
Organizations to Contact 157
Bibliography 162
Index 168
