At liberty to die : the battle for death with dignity in America /
Ball, Howard, 1937-
At liberty to die : the battle for death with dignity in America / Howard Ball. - New York : New York University Press, - ix, 229 pages ; 24 cm
Includes bibliographical references (pages 207-215) and index.
The changing nature of death in America -- The plight of the incompetent patient in a "permanent vegetative state" (PVS) -- Terri Schiavo's tragic odyssey, 1990-2005 -- What freedom do we have to die with dignity? The U.S. Supreme Court decides, 1997 -- The second path to PAD : passing legislation allowing death with dignity -- The pioneering PAD states : Oregon and Washington -- America's transplants.
"Over the past hundred years, average life expectancy in America has nearly doubled, due largely to scientific and medical advances, but also as a consequence of safer working conditions, a heightened awareness of the importance of diet and health, and other factors. Yet while longevity is celebrated as an achievement in modern civilization, the longer people live, the more likely they are to succumb to chronic, terminal illnesses. In 1900, the average life expectancy was 47 years, with a majority of American deaths attributed to influenza, tuberculosis, pneumonia, or other diseases. In 2000, the average life expectancy was nearly 80 years, and for too many people, these long lifespans included cancer, heart failure, Lou Gehrig's Disease, AIDS, or other fatal illnesses, and with them, came debilitating pain and the loss of a once-full and often independent lifestyle. In this compelling and provocative book, noted legal scholar Howard Ball poses the pressing question: is it appropriate, legally and ethically, for a competent individual to have the liberty to decide how and when to die when faced with a terminal illness? At Liberty to Die charts how, the right of a competent, terminally ill person to die on his or her own terms with the help of a doctor has come deeply embroiled in debates about the relationship between religion, civil liberties, politics, and law in American life. Exploring both the legal rulings and the media frenzies that accompanied the Terry Schiavo case and others like it, Howard Ball contends that despite raging battles in all the states where right to die legislation has been proposed, the opposition to the right to die is intractable in its stance. Combining constitutional analysis, legal history, and current events, Ball surveys the constitutional arguments that have driven the right to die debate"--Provided by publisher.
9780814791042 0814791042 9780814769751 0814769756 9780814745274 081474527X
New York Univ Pr, Attn Order Entry Dept 838 Broadway 3rd Fl, New York, NY, USA, 10003-4812 SAN 658-1293
2011052258
GBB226242 bnb
Right to die--Law and legislation--United States.
Assisted suicide--Law and legislation--United States.
Euthanasia--Law and legislation--United States.
Right to Die--legislation & jurisprudence.
Suicide, Assisted--legislation & jurisprudence.
Euthanasia--legislation & jurisprudence.
Persistent Vegetative State.
Assisted suicide--Law and legislation.
Euthanasia--Law and legislation.
Right to die--Law and legislation.
Recht auf Leben.
Sterbehilfe.
Alter
Sterbehilfe
Selbstmord
Freiheitsrecht
--
United States.
United States.
USA.
USA
KF3827.E87 / B357 2012
344.7304/197
2012 F-262 W 32.5 AA1
At liberty to die : the battle for death with dignity in America / Howard Ball. - New York : New York University Press, - ix, 229 pages ; 24 cm
Includes bibliographical references (pages 207-215) and index.
The changing nature of death in America -- The plight of the incompetent patient in a "permanent vegetative state" (PVS) -- Terri Schiavo's tragic odyssey, 1990-2005 -- What freedom do we have to die with dignity? The U.S. Supreme Court decides, 1997 -- The second path to PAD : passing legislation allowing death with dignity -- The pioneering PAD states : Oregon and Washington -- America's transplants.
"Over the past hundred years, average life expectancy in America has nearly doubled, due largely to scientific and medical advances, but also as a consequence of safer working conditions, a heightened awareness of the importance of diet and health, and other factors. Yet while longevity is celebrated as an achievement in modern civilization, the longer people live, the more likely they are to succumb to chronic, terminal illnesses. In 1900, the average life expectancy was 47 years, with a majority of American deaths attributed to influenza, tuberculosis, pneumonia, or other diseases. In 2000, the average life expectancy was nearly 80 years, and for too many people, these long lifespans included cancer, heart failure, Lou Gehrig's Disease, AIDS, or other fatal illnesses, and with them, came debilitating pain and the loss of a once-full and often independent lifestyle. In this compelling and provocative book, noted legal scholar Howard Ball poses the pressing question: is it appropriate, legally and ethically, for a competent individual to have the liberty to decide how and when to die when faced with a terminal illness? At Liberty to Die charts how, the right of a competent, terminally ill person to die on his or her own terms with the help of a doctor has come deeply embroiled in debates about the relationship between religion, civil liberties, politics, and law in American life. Exploring both the legal rulings and the media frenzies that accompanied the Terry Schiavo case and others like it, Howard Ball contends that despite raging battles in all the states where right to die legislation has been proposed, the opposition to the right to die is intractable in its stance. Combining constitutional analysis, legal history, and current events, Ball surveys the constitutional arguments that have driven the right to die debate"--Provided by publisher.
9780814791042 0814791042 9780814769751 0814769756 9780814745274 081474527X
New York Univ Pr, Attn Order Entry Dept 838 Broadway 3rd Fl, New York, NY, USA, 10003-4812 SAN 658-1293
2011052258
GBB226242 bnb
Right to die--Law and legislation--United States.
Assisted suicide--Law and legislation--United States.
Euthanasia--Law and legislation--United States.
Right to Die--legislation & jurisprudence.
Suicide, Assisted--legislation & jurisprudence.
Euthanasia--legislation & jurisprudence.
Persistent Vegetative State.
Assisted suicide--Law and legislation.
Euthanasia--Law and legislation.
Right to die--Law and legislation.
Recht auf Leben.
Sterbehilfe.
Alter
Sterbehilfe
Selbstmord
Freiheitsrecht
--
United States.
United States.
USA.
USA
KF3827.E87 / B357 2012
344.7304/197
2012 F-262 W 32.5 AA1