Should human beings be allowed to decide when to die? Should doctors be allowed to assist them?
During the last ten years there has been much international interest in euthanasia in the Netherlands. In the discussion of euthanasia in the US and the UK, both sides in the debate continually refer to the “Dutch Experience”. Negotiating a Good Death: Euthanasia in the Netherlands presents firsthand descriptions of euthanasia in practice in the Netherlands--something that has never been done before. This will provide a deeper understanding of the issues involved for all those interested in end-of-life decisions. It will also help clinicians and other medical professionals better understand end-of-life decision making.
Negotiating a Good Death is the first inside account of how decisions about euthanasia are made in real-life situations. Documenting two years of observations at a Dutch hospital, this valuable book describes why patients request euthanasia, the social factors that influence doctors’decisions about granting patients’requests, and how patients and doctors confer over peaceful deaths. Some aspects of this delicate, often hidden, and socially taboo subject that Negotiating a Good Death frankly discusses are:
the emotions that lead to a wish for death
the ideology of easy death
the anthropology of death
the role of the researcher
the line between symptom alleviation and euthanasia
where the responsibility lies
conservative options for medical personnel
how to speak to relatives of someone who has requested euthanasia
euthanasia as a cultural construct
Through case studies and examples, Negotiating a Good Death: Euthanasia in the Netherlands will help you understand the issues surrounding euthanasia and how life-ending decisions are made by both doctors and patients.
By:
Carlton Muson,
Joan K Perry
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 210mm,
Width: 148mm,
Spine: 19mm
Weight: 408g
ISBN: 9780789010810
ISBN 10: 078901081X
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 16 October 2000
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Contents Preface. Euthanasia in the Netherlands: Twenty-Five Years of Debate The Present Study Acknowledgments Chapter 1. Death and the Anthropologist: On the Problem of Studying Euthanasia The End: The Death of David Emotion and the Anthropology of Death Participant Observation Performative Ethnography Chapter 2. Euthanasia According to the Rules The Endoscopy Room The Attending Physician Mrs. Kees The Son The Psychologist The Second Opinion Dr. Van Ham The Head Nurse The Daughter Euthanasia The Coroner The Anesthetist The Euthanasia Request The Participants Did She Really Want to Die? The Rules of Due Care On the Role of the Researcher Once More Chapter 3. Where the Responsibility Lies Mrs. Van Nelle She Wants Euthanasia, but She is Afraid to Take the Responsibility Increasing the Morphine Was She Suffering Unbearably? Did She Really Want to Die? Dr. Glas's Intention Assuming Responsibility Chapter 4. The Line Between Euthanasia and Symptom Alleviation Mr. Strasser's Denial The Reversal Gerrit Knol's Interpretation Dr. Schuyt's Interpretation Was It Euthanasia or Just Symptom Alleviation? Chapter 5. Coping with Pressure from the Family Mrs. Lanser Mrs. Jones The Euthanasia Requests, the Relatives, and the Conservative Option Chapter 6. A Reflexive Intermezzo Dialogue The Doctors' Discussion Themes Chapter 7. Turning off Mr. Joost's Respirator Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis The Joost Family Shifting the Boundary Turning Off the Respirator What the Nurses Said, and What They Meant Doubt, Uncertainty, and Hesitation Chapter 8. When Doctors Refuse a Euthanasia Request Mr. Oosten's Euthanasia Request Mr. Oosten's Death The Nursing Records The Doctors' Interpretations When Is Euthanasia Negotiable? Euthanasia and Alleviation Chapter 9. The Negotiation Process Prerounds Discussion on the AIDS Ward Background of the Euthanasia Request The Request Bryan Mayflower The Request Considered Preparations The Mystery Dr. Edelman and the AIDS Patients Was It the Right Decision? Chapter 10. Unreported Euthanasia Uncle Max's Story Increasing the Morphine Euthanasia Where Was the Specialist? Dr. Schuyt's Explanation The Reason Why Chapter 11. The Social Context of Euthanasia The Patients The Relatives The Ideology of Easy Death Control and the Negotiation of a Good Death The Doctors The Nurses The Culture of the Ward Language, Discouse, and Communication Chapter 12. What is Euthanasia? Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Euthanasia and Symptom Alleviation Euthanasia and the Withdrawal or Nonimplementation of Life-Prolonging Treatment Euthanasia As Cultural Construct Appendix. Euthanasia Declaration Notes References Index
