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 HandbookDiscusses 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 EthicsOffers an overview of various ethical concerns in healthcare, including a chapter on assisted suicide.
- Encyclopedia of BioethicsProvides information on a wide range of topics related to ethics in health professions.
- Death and DyingExamines end-of-life controversies in the United States, including a chapter on physician-assisted suicide.
- Encyclopedia of American LawIncludes articles covering issues, biographies, definitions of legal terms, and more. Search Euthanasia and/or Assisted Suicide.
- CQ Researcher This link opens in a new windowReference 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.