Assisted death in Europe and America : four regimes and their lessons /

At present, seven jurisdictions in the world have legalized assisted death (physician-assisted suicide or voluntary euthanasia). Lewy (emer., political science, Univ. of Massachusetts) surveys the four that have had a sufficiently long experience to provide useful data for analysis--the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Oregon--and dedicates a chapter to each. Although admittedly sympathetic to legalization, Lewy presents a fair, nonbiased description of the history and politics behind the legislation, along with relevant statistics surrounding the practice of assisted death under these laws. This is not an ethical analysis but a thoroughly documented treatment of the facts--positive and negative--working from the assumption that, while the facts cannot settle the ethics, any ethical debate must consider the facts. As such, the book has the potential to make a valuable contribution to readers' understanding of a very important public policy issue. Four appendixes provide the full text of the relevant legislation. Although his account is supported by 40 pages of notes and bibliography, Lewy writes in a clear, engaging style that is never too technical. This book deserves a wide readership. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above; general readers. C. D. Kay Wofford College