Euthanasia Examined: Ethical, Clinical and Legal Perspectives

by John Keown (Editor), Daniel Callahan (Foreword by)

Overview

Whether euthanasia or assisted suicide should be legalized is one of the most pressing and profound questions facing legislators, health care professionals, their patients, and all members of society. Regrettably, the debate is too often characterized by rhetoric rather than reason. This book aims to inform the debate by acquainting anyone interested in this vital question with some of the major ethical, legal, clinical and theological issues involved. The essays it contains are authoritative in that they have been commissioned from some of the world's leading experts, balanced in that they reflect divergent viewpoints (including a vigorous debate between two eminent philosophers), and readable in that they should be readily understood by the general reader.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521586139
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	06/19/1997
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	6.02(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.79(d)

Table of Contents

Foreword Daniel Callahan; Introduction John Keown; 1. Euthanasia and the value of life John Harris; 2. A philosophical case against euthanasia John Finnis; 3. The philosophical case against euthanasia John Harris; 4. The fragile case for euthanasia: a reply to John Harris John Finnis; 5. Final thoughts on final acts John Harris; 6. Misunderstanding the case against euthanasia: response to Harris's first reply John Finnis; 7. Euthanasia: back to the future Kenneth Boyd; 8. The case for legalising voluntary euthanasia Jean Davies; 9. Extracts from the Report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Medical Ethics; 10. Walton, Davies, Boyd and the legalization of euthanasia Luke Gormally; 11. Where there is hope, there is life: a view from the hospice Robert Twycross; 12. Letting vegetative patients die Brian Jennett; 13. A case for sometimes tube-feeding patients in persistent vegetative state Joseph Boyle; 14. Dilemmas at life's end: a comparative legal perspective Dieter Giesen; 15. Physician-assisted suicide: the last bridge to active voluntary euthanasia Yale Kamisar; 16. Euthanasia in the Netherlands: sliding down the slippery slope? John Keown; 17. Advance directives: a legal and ethical analysis Stuart Hornett; 18. Theological aspects of euthanasia Anthony Fisher; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Of all the ethical issues in medicine, euthanasia...is the most important...Euthanasia Examined is by far the best guide...that I have come across" Raymond Tallis, Times Literary Supplement

"An invaluable reference source...given the momentum and world-wide prominence of the euthanasia debate, this book should be an essential part of any nursing or medical library." Simon Smith, Professional Nurse

"John Keown has done a remarkable job by collecting and editing the 18 contributions...The book...is a must." Journal of the Royal College of Physicians

"The debate on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide is spreading. It promises to go on, to become more heated, and to grow more complex. This book lays the issues out in a clear, incisive, and lively way. It is an exceedingly valuable resource." Daniel Callahan. President, The Hastings Center, New York

"...classic text on euthanasia is still relevant today...an important source of information for those wishing to be better informed about the debate." Bulletin of Medical Ethics

"This collection of eighteen essays, most of them by British authors, offers the English-speaking nations a fresh chance to look at both sides of the euthanasia debate before they hasten to legalize the practice as Holland did in 1984." H.A. Nielsen, The Canadian Catholic Review

From the Publisher

Intense personal and social debate about euthanasia has developed internationally during the past 10 years. This book is a contribution to that debate. Introduced by Daniel Callahan, who pleads for a reasoned examination of the issue before a rush to legislation, this book aims at both expert and general readers, and is, as he says, ""a good place to start."" The purpose is to inform readers through rational discussion rather than through polemics. This book is aimed at a fairly sophisticated readership, both experts and lay people, including healthcare professionals, lawyers, legislators, philosophers, theologians, and the general public. There are 17 essays and one report. Five of the essays are updated presentations from a conference at the University of Leicester in 1991. The rest are new contributions. All but three of the authors are from England, as is the report from the House of Lords about euthanasia. Although the book starts with a lengthy debate with responses for and against euthanasia by two prominent philosophers (John Harris and John Finnis), it also contains arguments for and against by legal scholars, physicians, and a theologian. Still there is a traditional tone to the book. Although the editor contributes an essay severely critical of Dutch euthanasia practices without a counter-response from the Dutch, there is still a good balance of arguments overall. There are now a few good books on the market regarding euthanasia. Despite this one's British origins and focus, it does make a valuable contribution to the international and national debate. There are none better that explore the topic with this degree of sophistication. The book is also up-to-date,including remarks about legislation in Oregon and in the Northern Territories of Australia and lacking only the recent decisions of the 9th Circuit Court and 2nd Circuit Court in the U.S. striking down laws against assisted suicide. The book is recommended.

David Thomasma