Physician Assisted Suicide by M. Pabst Battin (Hardcover - Routledge)

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Last June the United States Supreme Court concluded its majority opinion on the issue of physician assisted suicide (PAS) with the declaration that, "Americans are engaged in an earnest and profound debate about the morality, legality, and practicality of physician-assisted suicide....Our holding permits this debate to continue, as it should in a democratic society". A consequence of the Supreme Court's decision is to return discussion to the states, to deal with this heated issue either legislatively or by citizen referendum. Physician Assisted Suicide: Expanding the Debate draws attention to the intricate issues that need to be considered by voters and legislators in every state. Citizens from Florida to Oregon have had recent referendums on this highly politicized matter, and are fervent about their say. In November, for example, Oregonians voted -- by a ratio of better than 3 to 2 -- to uphold the nation's only law allowing doctor-assisted suicide. This book furthers the discussion on this ethical, religious and practical matter from various viewpoints including bioethics, law, medicine, and religion. The contributors answer public policy questions such as the effectiveness and monetary costs of legalizing PAS, and consider the perspectives of people who may be vulnerable to a PAS system, including those with disabilities, the elderly and women. The book also sorts out the broad questions of personal choice: is PAS ultimately about avoiding suffering or controlling the decision to end one's life? As the first book to respond to and consider the Supreme Court decision, this collection paves the way for informed public debate on the complex issue of PAS.