Neal Wyatt, Column Editor
Kelly Myer Polacek, Guest Columnist
Print version (Adobe Reader required)
Euthanasia is a topic of hot debate in social, political, legal, medical, religious, and ethical arenas. It is one of those topics that collection development librarians grapple with when striving to create authoritative, accessible, and useful collections. What are the best books, what journals are needed, and just what issues make up the debate? Kelly Myer Polacek has addressed the topic from a huge range of perspectives, keeping in mind both academic and public library needs. Her article supplies librarians with a critical understanding of the cases key to the current debate; a wealth of foundational articles, critical texts, and core journals important in shaping a reliable collection; and a framework for reference librarians to use when assisting researchers. Polacek obtained an MLS degree (with an emphasis in science librarianship) from Indiana University’s School of Library and Information Science in December 2006. She also holds a master’s degree in the biological sciences, with an emphasis in science education and physiology. Polacek and her dog, Fran, are registered Pet Partners with the Delta Society.–Editor
Derived from the Greek terms eu meaning good, and thanos meaning death, euthanasia is the act of bringing death to another person in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy. Although euthanasia has historically been common practice in many societies, it remains one of the most controversial topics today. In 2005, Jack Kevorkian, also known as “Dr. Death,” was denied parole for his involvement in the assisted death of Thomas Youk. Terry Schiavo’s death, perhaps the most famous of 2005, was precluded by the unprecedented involvement of her family, the media, and the federal government. These recent events renewed public and professional interest in euthanasia, resulting in hundreds of publications on the topic.
This flurry of publications contributed to the thousands of journal articles, books, magazine and newspaper articles, and Web sites already available. Although much of this material is of unknown authority, valuable information indeed exists within professional, medical, and legal literature, as well as materials from advocacy groups, health resources, and government publications. This guide collects those resources and fills a gap currently existing among collection development and evaluation tools. It is unique in its breadth of coverage, including biased and unbiased Web sites, databases, and scholarly and popular writings, which discuss the legal, ethical, philosophical, medical, historical, national, international, and practical issues surrounding the topic of euthanasia. It is a timely and comprehensive portal for a range of libraries and researcher needs.
Libraries with limited budgets can simply add the books listed here, and in doing so, meet the information needs of their users. The diverse perspectives of the materials listed in the guide can be considered by academic libraries with larger scopes and budgets and will supplement existing collections and fill any gaps in coverage. Public libraries can create a multiauthor, multiperspective collection with as little as two or three books by considering the selection of Greenhaven Press publications and works from famous cases listed below. This guide could also serve as a collection development tool for health science and medical libraries. Health practitioners will appreciate the currency of information available in the Internet sources and periodicals suggested, while the search strategies for databases make excellent starting points for academics and other researchers. Finally, even though assisted suicide is legal only in the State of Oregon, there are many methods, such as living wills and power-of-attorney, used to declare varying end-of-life intents. Those needing clarification on the legality of these documents will also find practical information in this guide. The author thanks Lokman Meho and Douglas R. Brewster for help in the preparation of this manuscript.
Web Resources
Medical Web Resources
A comprehensive Web site with information for consumers, patients, physicians, nurses, and educators. An excellent starting point to learn about terminal diseases and conditions that might precipitate consideration of euthanasia. Useful search terms: euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, end-of-life.
Provides consumer-oriented information from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, and other government agencies and health-related organizations. Effective search terms are “end of life” and “living will.” Results of these searches provide links to internal and authoritative external sites related to: advanced directives, bereavement, cancer, hospice care, caregivers, and assisted living.
Health On the Net (HON) Foundation is a nonprofit, nongovern m en tal o rga nization dedicated to helping laypersons and medical professionals find reli able sources of health care inf ormati on on the Intern et. Only sites abiding by HON’s honor code are retrieved during a search. Use keyword: euthanasia.
Organizations and Associations
This national organization is dedicated to the protection of innocent human life. Although known primarily for its desire to prohibit abortion, it is also involved in other life issues such as living wills and euthanasia.
International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
Addresses the issues of euthanasia, assisted suicide, advance directives, and pain control. Promotes the right of patients to receive medical care and compassion rather than physicians’ rights to engage in euthanasia. Particularly useful for users seeking legal information.
The Hemlock Society began in 1980 when the wife of founder Derek Humphry took her own life with the help of her husband. The site contains information about and links to sites describing its members’ efforts to change laws and policy.
Books and Audiovisual Material
Battin, Margaret Pabst. Ending Life: Ethics and the Way We Die. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Pr., 2005 (ISBN: 0-19-514027-3).
Battin has been a contributor to the field of bioethics, particularly on the topics of suicide and euthanasia, for more than thirty years. This collection of her works includes historical and cross-cultural essays, systematic pieces as well as fiction and creative nonfiction. Includes bibliography and index. Also consider her 1994 publication, The Least Worst Death ( New York: Oxford Univ. Pr.)
Battin, Margaret Pabst, and Arthur G. Lipman. Drug Use in Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia. New York: Pharmaceutical Products Pr., 1996 (ISBN: 1-560-24843-2).
This publication is unique in its discussion of the chemical and pharmacological properties of drugs used to end life and the physiological consequences of successful and unsuccessful euthanazations.
Dowbiggin, Ian Robert. A Merciful End: The Euthanasia Movement in Modern America. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Pr., 2003 (ISBN: 0-19-515443-6).
A historical account of euthanasia in the United States during the last century. Dowbiggin traces the decades, providing accounts of the significant events of the euthanasia movement. Unlike the other materials in this bibliography, it includes a significant emphasis on eugenics and its role within the euthanasia movement.
Dworkin, Gerald, R. G. Frey, and Sissela Bok. Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Pr., 1998 (ISBN: 0-521-58789-1).
Three philosophers debate the ethics and legality of euthanasia, the limitations of medicine, neglect of the dying, the Christian view against euthanasia, and the suicide “slippery slope.”
Gailey, E. A. Write to Death: News Framing of the Right to Die Conflict, from Quinlan’s Coma to Kevorkian’s Conviction. Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 2003 (ISBN: 0-275-97713-7).
Using examples from mainstream publications, Gailey argues that the media has focused on the medical and legal aspects of euthanasia and ignored ethical and religious concerns, thereby promotin g pro-eutha nasia views and ignoring pro-life perspectives. This discussion of euthanasi a from the perspective of media involvement makes this text a unique resource.
Greenhaven Pr.: Opposing Viewpoints Series; At Issues Series; Current Controversies Series; History of Issues Series, 2003-2006.
These books contain collections of essays on issues related to euthanasia. The essays are written by different authors and placed adjacent to each other for easy comparison. Academics and professionals will appreciate that the essays are written by experts in the field. Although described as series for young adults, these books are useful for any reader new to the subject. Available in print or online via a subscription database.
Balkin, K., ed. Assisted Suicide. Current Controversies Series. Detroit: Greenhaven Pr., 2005 (ISBN: 0-7377-2198-7).
Espejo, R., ed. Suicide. Opposing Viewpoints Series. San Diego: Greenhaven Pr., 2003 (ISBN: 0-7377-1241-4).
Haley, J., ed. Death and Dying. Opposing Viewpoints Series. San Diego: Greenhaven Pr., 2003 (ISBN: 0-7377-1224-4).
Medina, L. M., ed. Euthanasia. Opposing Viewpoints Series. Detroit: Greenhaven Pr., 2005 (ISBN: 0-7377-2005-0).
Nakaya, A. C., ed. Terminal Illness. Opposing Viewpoints Series. San Diego: Greenhaven Pr., 2005 (ISBN: 0-7377-2964-3).
Snyder, C. L., ed. Euthanasia. Opposing Viewpoints Series. San Diego: Greenhaven Pr., 2006 (ISBN: 0-7377-2934-1).
Woodward, J., ed. The Right to Die. At Issues Series. Detroit: Greenhaven Pr., 2006 (ISBN: 0-7377-3439-6).
Humphry, Derek. Final Exit: The Practicalities of Self-Deliverance and Assisted Suicide for the Dying. 3rd ed. New York: Delta Trade Paperback, 2002 (ISBN: 0-385-33653-5).
A veritable guide to choosing and completing the act of euthanasia. Humphry’s guidance includes information about starvation, drugs and dosages, hospice options, a final checklist, life insurance, durable power of attorney, and living wills, among many others.
Humphry, Derek. The Good Euthanasia Guide 2004: Where, What, and Who in Choices in Dying. Junction City, Ore.: Norris Lane Pr., 2004 (ISBN: 0-97682831-6).
In Final Exit, Humphry instructs readers how to commit suicide. In The Good Euthanasia Guide, he lists contact information of right-to-die groups and describes ways in which an individual can seek (illegal) assistance in dying. He also discusses the taboo subject of euthanasia for the untreatably mentally ill.