A Concise History of Euthanasia: Life, Death, God, and MedicineRowman & Littlefield, 2007 - Broj stranica: 163 In this first book to explore the history of euthanasia worldwide since classical antiquity, distinguished historian Ian Dowbiggin exposes the many disturbing themes that link present and past in the concept of the right to die. His deeply informed history traces the controversial record of "mercy killing," a source of heated debate among doctors and laypeople alike. Dowbiggin examines evolving opinions about what constitutes a good death, taking into account the societal and religious values placed on sin, suffering, resignation, judgment, penance, and redemption. He also examines the bitter struggle between those who advocate for the right to compassionate and effective end-of-life care and those who justify euthanasia by defining human life in terms of biological criteria, utilitarian standards, a faith in science, humane medical treatment, the principle of personal autonomy, or individual human rights. The author considers both the influence of technological and behavioral changes in the practice of medicine and the public's surprising lack of awareness of death's many clinical and biological dimensions. Dowbiggin reminds us that the stakes in the struggle are enormously high, with the lives of countless vulnerable people hanging in the balance. His provocative historical perspective will be indispensable as patients, families, governments, and the medical community debate when it is time to let go of life. Bound to spark controversy, this book takes issue with the right-to-die movement over the question of legalizing either assisted suicide or actual lethal injection (mercy-killing) and raises profound personal and collective questions on the future of euthanasia. |
Sadržaj
Obedient unto Death | 7 |
This Troublesome Shore | 27 |
Method of Escape | 49 |
A Higher Morality? | 71 |
In God We Trust | 91 |
Collision Course | 111 |
Cradle and Grave | 141 |
| 155 | |
About the Author | |
Ostala izdanja - Prikaži sve
A Concise History of Euthanasia: Life, Death, God, and Medicine Ian Robert Dowbiggin Prikaz isječka - 2005 |
Uobičajeni izrazi i fraze
abortion active euthanasia activists American assisted suicide asylums became believed birth control Britain British cancer Christian cide classical antiquity court cultural Darwinism Darwinist death and dying debate Derek Humphry disabled disease doctors doctrine early eighteenth century Enlightenment ethics eugenics euthana euthanasia advocates euthanasia movement Evangelical Exoo Fletcher Genereux German groups Haiselden history of euthanasia hospital human Humphry Ian Dowbiggin individual Jack Kevorkian Jewitt Joseph Fletcher Karen Ann Quinlan Kevorkian late legalized euthanasia liberals lives medical murder medieval mentally Merciful End Merciful Release mercy killing Millard moral Nazi nineteenth century organized medicine pain percent physician-assisted suicide physicians political population Potter pro-euthanasia Ramsauer reform religion religious right to die right-to-die Roman Catholic secular social society suffering support for euthanasia teaching tended Thalidomide thanasia theologians theory tion twentieth century twenty-first century Unitarian University Press VELS Victorian voluntary euthanasia Wickett women York