Angels of Death : Exploring the Euthanasia Underground

by Roger S. Magnusson; With contributions from Peter H. Ballis

• ISBN13: 9780300094398
• ISBN10: 0300094396
• Format: Trade Book
• Copyright: 2002-05-11
• Publisher: Yale University Press

Summary

This book uncovers the hidden world of illicit physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. Through the frank and often troubling first-hand accounts of health professionals who have been involved in assisted death, the book records for the first time this secret but real area of medical and nursing practice. Through face-to-face interviews with these "angels of death," Roger S. Magnusson explores the social practices, relationships, and networks that constitute "underground" euthanasia.

Author Biography

Roger S. Magnusson is senior lecturer and coordinator, Health Law Program, Faculty of Law, The University of Sydney, Australia.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Acknowledgements
Introduction	p. 1
Who would do such a thing?	p. 7
Doctors who kill	p. 23
Voices in the euthanasia debate	p. 35
Sanctity of life: the slow death of an idea?	p. 54
Exploring the meaning of suicide talk	p. 68
Responding to euthanasia requests	p. 100
People, practices and potions	p. 128
Doing fieldwork in the euthanasia underground	p. 152
The underground community	p. 174
Disturbing issues	p. 200
More disturbing issues	p. 230
De-mystifying euthanasia practice	p. 248
Euthanasia policy: hard questions, hard consequences	p. 260
The recruitment strategy and methodology adopted in this study	p. 282
Notes	p. 285
Bibliography	p. 307
Index	p. 322
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