Resource Tag: ASSISTED SUICIDE

A handful of citations links a proverb about laughing at one’s own death with ancient Sardinian customs that are undeniably related to euthanasia (Broccia, 2001, 2002; Erasmus of Rotterdam, 2005; Mercklin,  1851; Perra, 1997; Rubichini, 2003). The proverb refers to the expression sardônios gélôs or risus sardonicus, and the quotations attempt to explain the paradox […]

BACKGROUND: Older adults are at risk of assisted and self-initiated suicide. The links between prior attempts and assisted suicide in the elderly have not been investigated. Hence, we aimed to investigate and describe the occurrence, timing and determinants of suicide attempts prior to assisted and self-initiated suicide. METHODS: We developed a retrospective study of all […]

Canadian end-of-life care is changing. Given recent legislative changes concerning assisted death (euthanasia and assisted suicide), it is vital to examine the perspectives of nurses regarding their care of patients who want to die. This qualitative descriptive study reports findings from interviews with 11 oncology nurses about their experiences of engaging with patients who desire […]

Copy held in CSP Library.

The authors examined religious affiliation & suicide in Switzerland. The 2000 census records of 1,722,456 Catholics, 1,565,452 Protestants, & 454,397 individuals with no affiliation were linked to mortality records up to December 2005. The association between religious affiliation & suicide, with the Protestant faith serving as the reference category, was examined in Cox regression models. […]

Ethicist Rex Roman offers his views on the distinction between suicide and physician-assisted suicide.

Focussing on the nineteenth century, this article will show how the crime of instigating suicide emerged as part of an (inadequate) effort to correct the abuses of serfdom in Russia, but would, by the 1860s, become a (likewise inadquate) tool to regulate familial relations – specifically, the abuse of wives & children. In both periods, […]

The cathartic effect of a nonfatal suicide attempt has been noted & suicidal behaviour can be seen as a useful & helpful approach to crises. Suicidal behaviour may also be efficacious in changing the environment of an individual in a favourable way. In this chapter, the author goes further by viewing even death by suicide […]

This chapter reviews the high rate of suicide among older people, especially older, white alcoholics. Common suicidal situations were examined including depression, widowhood, chronic health problems, & alcoholism. Different types of suicide were identified including physician-assisted suicide & rational suicide. Explanations for the growing support for these practices are offered. Factors contributing to high suicidality […]

Suicide has traditionally been viewed as a deviant act because it contributes to a climate in which individual life is devalued. Yet, as the author argues in this chapter, the line between suicide that is viewed as being justified (e.g. a person with a terminal illness) & suicide that is for the wrong reasons (e.g. […]

The author states with regard to physician-assisted suicide, proponents are most likely to get what they want by presenting compelling stories of dying patients asking their physicians for means to avoid the seemingly meaningless pain & indignity of terminal illness. These stories directly implicate statutes against assisted suicide. These laws, & the stories for & […]

This edited book provides detailed information on risk factors for suicide, suicide assessment, the ethical & legal issues surrounding suicide, & counselling techniques for working with children, adolescents, adults, those bereaved by suicide & their families.

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See SIEC #1992-0941 for citation to Watts & Howell study.

This article outlines the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill in the United Kingdom. The conditions that must be satisifed before an attending physician can assist a patient to die are highlighted & information regarding the declaration is provided. Third-party commentary is made on the Bill, comparing & constrasting it with legislation in The […]

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This article discusses the case of George Beecham who assisted in the suicide of his daughter. It is suggested that a serious injustice is done to such defendants in the United Kingdom. The author asserts this injustice would be easily corrected by the creation of a suitably closely defined defence analogous to mercy killing. The […]