LibGuides: Assisted Suicide: Background Information

Background Information

The American Medical Association defines assisted suicide as, "when a physician facilitates a patient's death by providing the necessary means and/or information to enable the patient to perform the life-ending act," whereas euthanasia involves physicians and family members assisting in the death of a patient. Use the following sources to learn more about the medical, ethical, legal, and political aspects of assisted suicide.

The Right to Die: A Reference Handbook
Discusses death rituals and trends in America from a historical perspective and includes arguments both for and against assisted suicide.
The SAGE Handbook of Health Care Ethics
Offers an overview of various ethical concerns in healthcare, including a chapter on assisted suicide.
Encyclopedia of Bioethics
Provides information on a wide range of topics related to ethics in health professions.
Death and Dying
Examines end-of-life controversies in the United States, including a chapter on physician-assisted suicide.
Encyclopedia of American Law
Includes articles covering issues, biographies, definitions of legal terms, and more. Search Euthanasia and/or Assisted Suicide.

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Reference tool/magazine that gives overviews of major topic areas (including assisted suicide). Includes articles, lists of other resources, and Pro and Con arguments for most topics.