Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

Examining the evidence from Belgium – one of only five countries where euthanasia is practised legally – an international panel of experts considers the implications of legalised euthanasia and assisted suicide. Looking at the issue from an international perspective, the authors have written an invaluable in-depth analysis of the ethical aspects of this complex area. The discussion forms a solid foundation for informed debate about assisted dying. With contributors from a broad range of disciplines, this book is ideal for students, academics, legislators and anyone interested in legal, medical, social and philosophical ethics. A vital and timely examination of a growing phenomenon and one of the most challenging ethical questions of our time.

    Considers the international implications of legalised euthanasia, providing an ideal foundation for an informed debate on this complex issue with insight from a global panel of experts
    Focuses on particular experiences of euthanasia and assisted suicide in Belgium (one of only five countries where this is legal) and provides a useful guide to similar choices faced by other jurisdictions
    An invaluable in-depth analysis into one of the most challenging ethical questions of our time, appealing to law, philosophy and medical disciplines

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part I. Euthanasia Legislation in Belgium and its Applications:
1. A discussion of the legal rules on euthanasia in Belgium briefly compared with the rules in Luxembourg and the Netherlands Herman Nys
2. The Belgian experience of euthanasia since its legal implementation in 2002 Etienne Montero
3. Ethics and the psychiatric dimensions of physician assisted suicide: a view from the United States Daniel P. Sulmasy
Part ll. Euthanasia and End of Life Care:
4. Assisted dying – the current situation in Flanders: euthanasia embedded in palliative care Paul Vanden Berghe, Arsène Mullie, Marc Desmet and Gert Huysmans
PostScript: death as disruption or disruptive dying? Some further reflections since 2013 'Assisted dying – the current situation in Flanders: euthanasia embedded in palliative care' Paul Vanden Berghe, Marc Desmet and Gert Huysmans
5. The practice of continuous sedation at the end of life in Belgium: how does it compare to UK practice, and is it being used as a form of euthanasia? Sigrid Sterckx and Kasper Rau
6. 2002–2016: fourteen years of euthanasia in Belgium: first-line observations by an oncologist Benoit Beuselinck
7. 'A last act of grace'? Organ donation and euthanasia in Belgium Trevor Stammers
Part lll. Euthanasia and Particular Vulnerable Groups:
8. A life worth living? Disabled people and euthanasia in Belgium Kevin Fitzpatrick and David Albert Jones
9. Euthanasia in patients with intolerable suffering due to an irremediable psychiatric illness: a psychiatric perspective Joris Vandenberghe
10. Euthanasia in children: keep asking the right questions Stefaan Van Gool and Jan De Lepeleire
11. Euthanizing people who are 'tired of life' Raphael Cohen-Almagor
12. Euthanasia in persons with severe dementia Chris Gastmans
Part lV. Euthanasia in Belgium: A Philosophical and Bioethical Discussion:
13. Some possible consequences arising from the normalisation of euthanasia in Belgium Calum MacKellar
14. Euthanasia and assisted suicide in Belgium: bringing an end to interminable discussion David Albert Jones
15. Psychiatric patients and the culture of euthanasia in Belgium Willem Lemmens
Final conclusions on final solutions David Albert Jones, Chris Gastmans and Calum MacKellar

David Albert Jones is Director of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre, Oxford and a Research Fellow at Blackfriars Hall, Oxford. He is also a Research Fellow at St Mary's University, Twickenham. He is Vice-chair of the Ministry of Defence Research Ethics Committee.

Chris Gastmans is a Professor of Medical Ethics and Director of the Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Belgium. He was a member of the Bureau of the European Association of Centres of Medical Ethics and held the positions of Secretary-General, Treasurer and President.

Calum MacKellar is Director of Research at the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics, Edinburgh and a Member of the Advisory Board of the Centre for Bioethics and Emerging Technologies at St Mary's University, Twickenham.

Contributors: Herman Nys, Etienne Montero, Daniel P. Sulmasy, Paul Vanden Berghe, Arsène Mullie, Marc Desmet, Gert Huysmans, Sigrid Sterckx, Kasper Raus, Benoit Beuselinck, Trevor Stammers, Kevin Fitzpatrick, David Albert Jones, Joris Vandenberghe, Stefaan Van Gool, Jan De Lepeleire, Raphael Cohen-Almagor, Chris Gastmans, Calum MacKellar, David Albert Jones, Willem Lemmens