Kim 1

Jae Yong Kim

ESL220/Section8/Ms. Stahl

Annotated Bibliography

April 8, 2010

Annotated Bibliography

Chapple, A, S Ziebland, A McPherson, and A Herxheimer. “What people close to death say about euthanasia and assisted suicide: a qualitative study.” J Med Ethics. Dec. 2006: 706–710. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. < http://za2uf4ps7f.search.serialssolutions.com.proxy1.cl.msu. edu/directLink?&atitle=What%20people%20close%20to%20death%20say%20about%20euthanasia%20and%20assisted%20suicide%3A%20a%20qualitative%20study&author=A%20Chapple%3B%20S%20Ziebland%3B%20A%20McPherson%3B%20A%20Herxheimer&issn=03066800&title=Journal%20of%20Medical%20Ethics&volume=32&issue=12&date=20061201&spage=706&id=doi:&sid=ProQ_ss&genre=article&lang=en>.

This article sums up interviews with terminally ill patients, asking their perspective of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in UK. Most of interviewees say that assisted suicide or voluntary euthanasia should be allowed because of several reasons. On the contrary, a few opponents say it should be banned because of religious reasons, worry about abuse.

I chose this study because it was based on real interviews with patients who are close to death. This study is very valuable because the interviews reflect real feelings of people who are confronted by death. Nobody can feel more concern about death than them. Although the number of interviewees is not large, it is enough to know how they think about assisted suicide or euthanasia. So I will quote a result of this interview.

Ganzini, Linda. "Legalized Physician-Assisted Suicide Has Improved the Care of Terminally Ill Patients." Current Controversies: Assisted Suicide. Ed. Karen F. Balkin. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Michigan State University Libraries. 7 Apr. 2010 <http://find.galegroup.com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/ovrc /infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ3010035260&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=msu_main&version=1.0>.

In this article, according to the example of Oregon, legalization of assisted suicide made more physicians being concerned about palliative care for terminal ill people. The author says that physicians who have had experiences to receive explicit requests of assisted suicide become more care for their patients through having an honest talk with them. Despite the concerns of slippery slope effects, the legalization affects physicians’ attitude toward assisted suicide positively.

I sought positive effects of legalized physician-assisted suicide. It was easy to find why we should opposite it, but the contrary was not. This article gives good evidences of positive effect of legalized physician-assisted suicide. So I chose this article as my quotation source.

Gert, Bernard. "Euthanasia." Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Donald M. Borchert, ed. 2nd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2006. 455-459. 5 Apr. 2010. Web. <http://go.gale group.com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7 CCX3446800613&v=2.1&u=msu_ main&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w>.

This source deals with different concepts of euthanasia. Euthanasia refers to all kind of methods that bring about death sooner and usually with less pain and suffering. It used to be used for people who suffer from terminal ill, but there is discussion of expanding the application scopes and this is main point of recent arguments.

This source explains euthanasia more easily but deeply. It gives exact explanation about the concepts related to euthanasia which are easy to be confused, such as Voluntary Active Euthanasia (VAE), Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS), Voluntary Passive Euthanasia (VPE), Involuntary Active Euthanasia (IAE), and Involuntary Passive Euthanasia (IPE). So I chose this source.

Malean, Sheila and Alison Britton. The Case for Physician Assisted Suicide. San Francisco: Pandora, 1997. Print.

This book reviews the arguments for and against permitting people to commit assisted suicide. Once both sides are examined, the supporters’ arguments are considerable. At the same time, the opponents’ opinions are also clear. This book is not about death against one’s willing. This deals with physician assistance in death and lawful help in dying.

I chose this book because it deals with both sides of arguments about assisted suicide in a balanced way. Especially, the authors sum up weaknesses which the opponents’ arguments have well. At least in two points – assisted suicide should be banned because of the sanctity of life and to legalize it is a slippery slope, the authors are successful to argue reasonably. I will use his ideas about the sanctity of life argument and analyses on legalization of assisted suicide.

Mitchell, John B. Understanding Assisted Suicide: Nine Issues to Consider. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press, 2007. Print.

This book introduces the arguments about legalization of physician assisted suicide. The author mentions not only about permitting or forbidding physician assisted suicide, but also about other alternative which is located between them. Finally, this book points out we will become to choose one of each side sooner or later and warns that regulation and oversight are needed.

This book shows unique point of view on physician assisted suicide, and gives an interesting alternative – “a form of legal defense,” even if it is not that realistic. And because it was published in 2007, it contains relatively recent discussions about physician assisted suicide. Also I agree with his warning against near future. This is the last part I want to quote: “if experiments like that in Oregon function well, alleviating our fears of a slippery slope, then regulated PAS would be appropriate. If, however, the experiment fails, and other data confirm our worst fears, then law must aggressively address the euthanasia underground and any de facto practices resembling euthanasia in managed care facilities.”

Phelps, Shirelle and Jeffrey Lehman, ed. "Euthanasia." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2nd ed. Vol. 4. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 236-241. web. 5 Apr. 2010. <http://go.galegroup.com .proxy2.cl.msu.edu/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CCX 3437701668&v=2.1&u=msu_main&it= r&p=GVRL&sw=w>.

This source talks about different categories of euthanasia and makes distinct euthanasia from physician-assisted suicide. Euthanasia can be categorized as active euthanasia and passive euthanasia according to degree of physicians’ involvement. And Euthanasia also can be classified as voluntary and involuntary euthanasia by degree of patients’ involvement. In addition, this source introduces Oregon’s euthanasia law, which was affirmed in 1994.

I chose this source because when I started to research I was lack of background knowledge. I confused basic concepts of euthanasia, and even didn’t know the differences between euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. This source explains the differences clearly, and additionally, it deals with several considerable issues on euthanasia.

Quill, Timothy E. Death and Dignity. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1993. Print.

This book explains what the physicians should do in the moment of conflicting with two values in Hippocratic Oath which every medical student takes – to prolong the lives of patients and to minimize their suffering. And the author argues that the values in Hippocratic Oath can be shifted depending on patients’ situations. If there is no way a patient can revive, the purpose of treatment has to be moved to lessen suffering, not to prolong life. The author says that this is the way of saving dignity as human being.

Timothy E. Quill is a physician and an authority of assisted suicide. He has experiences of prescribing sleeping peels to death and knows about details on assisted suicide not just in methodology but also in philosophy. He explains quite detail processes of assisted suicide, it is really helpful to understand what assisted suicide is and distinct from other concepts such as passive euthanasia and involuntary euthanasia. He also reinterprets Hippocratic Oath, I partially agree with that, so I chose this book as my source.

Scherer, Jennifer M. and Rita J. Simon. Euthanasia and The Right to Die: A Comparative View. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 1999. Print.

This book gives a detailed account of the fundamental issues on euthanasia. The author explains the differences from self-deliverance and suicide, in terms of rational decision. And also the book gives both the proponents’ position and the opponents’ position. The opponents argue that self-deliverance is a concept based on autonomy and relieving severe pain is even more merciful thing. On the contrary, the opponents concern the slippery-slope effects on committing suicide and the sanctity of life.

I chose this book as my source because the arguments were so balanced that reading this book was of use to balance my thoughts. And this book also sums up main idea of each aspects, it is easy for me to access and understand related information.

Smith, Wesley J. "Physician-Assisted Suicide Should Not Be Legalized." Opposing Viewpoints: Death and Dying. Ed. James Haley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Michigan State University Libraries. 7 Apr. 2010 <http://find.galegroup.com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ3010123235&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=msu_main&version=1.0>.

In this article, the author argues that doctors should not give any kind of help patients to die. The author also worry about legalization of assisted suicide because of slippery slope effects. That is, once the legislation enacted, assisted suicide can be increased dramatically because of potential demands.

I chose this article to using the author’s opinion for support my idea. Particularly, I am going to use the part “False Logic.” I think there are no differences between life and dying life in terms of dignity. To support this idea, I plan to use this article, especially this part. If necessary, I am going to quote the related provisions of criminal law.

Somerville, Margaret. "The Terminally Ill Should Not Be Allowed to Choose Euthanasia." Opposing Viewpoints: Terminal Illness. Ed. Andrea C. Nakaya. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Michigan State University Libraries. 7 Apr. 2010 <http://find.galegroup.com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/ovrc/infomark.do? &contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ3010168253&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=msu_main&version=1.0>.

According to this article, euthanasia is not a simple matter of personal choice. It can destroy not only most important value of our society, but also physician’s willing to save life. The author says that, in any circumstance, to be allowed to choose euthanasia has more disadvantages than advantages.

The author gives new point of view that I’ve never thought about: the permission of assisted suicide can break faith in physicians. Because this article broadened my scope of thought, I chose it as my writing source.

Walters, Sharon I. Fraser and James W. "Physician-Assisted Suicide Should Be Legalized." At Issue: Physician Assisted Suicide. Ed. James H. Ondrey. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2006. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Michigan State University Libraries. 7 Apr. 2010 <http://find.galegroup.com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/ovrc/infomark.do?&content Set=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ3010020219&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=msu_main&version=1.0>.

In this article, the author argues that assisted suicide is one option of death with human dignity for terminally ill patients. The author also says that how to die is not a society’s right, it should be approached in view of individuals’ autonomy or personal right.

I hope my writing will present a balanced view of the two sides of assisted suicide. I think that supporters’ arguments are also rational and considerable. Therefore, I am going to introduce this article as proponents’ points of view.