Angels of Death: Exploring the Euthanasia Underground

Angels of Death: Exploring the Euthanasia Underground
ISBN-10
0300094396
ISBN-13
9780300094398
Series
Angels of Death
Category
Medical
Pages
352
Language
English
Published
2002-01-01
Publisher
Yale University Press
Authors
Peter Harry Ballis, Roger S. Magnusson

Description

This groundbreaking book uncovers the hidden world of illicit physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. Through the frank and often troubling first-hand accounts of health professionals who have been involved in assisted death, the book records for the first time this secret but real area of medical and nursing practice. Through face-to-face interviews with these "angels of death, " Roger S. Magnusson explores the social practices, relationships, and networks that constitute "underground" euthanasia. How is assisted death actually practiced within health care settings? What are the issues that surround the making of such a momentous decision? How do health care workers justify their attitudes and actions in this area? Angels of Death offers detailed answers to these questions and many others. The doctors, nurses, and therapists who were interviewed pseudonymously for this study work in the HIV/AIDS communities in the United States and Australia. Their perspectives and practices, their attitudes and feelings, illuminate the assisted death debate and expose a variety of disturbing issues, including the reality of "botched attempts, " euthanasia without consent, and unduly hasty measures to bring about death. The testimony of medical practitioners, combined with Magnusson's thoughtful assessment of the issues, will be of intense interest to both opponents and advocates of proposals to legalize euthanasia.

Get the book

Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Search the book
eBay.com
eBay.com
Search the book

Other editions

Similar books