Year: 2000 Source: Irish Medical Journal, v.93, no.3, (May 2000), p.68-69 SIEC No: 20030598

This article discusses the legal status of euthanasia in The Netherlands, Australia, America & the United Kingdom. The differences between suicide, mercy killing, & physician-assisted suicide are presented. Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act is evaluated. It is noted that 60% of polled Americans favored assisted suicide for competent patients. A study is presented in which 53% of physician respondents treating autoimmunodeficiency patients in San Francisco had participated in assisted suicide at least once. (20 refs) (SC)