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Right to Die Versus Sacredness of Life
Edited by Kalman J. Kaplan
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IN PRAISE OF
" . . . It moves us beyond the either/or impossibilities of black &
white thinking and acting (or not acting) to reexamine our definitions,
resources, traditions and life's realities to find sacredness in living
and dying and to understand that simple answers (often from our own form
of denial) no longer suit the complexities of the human experience. Technology
is technology. It doesn't come packaged in theology, ideology, values or
ethics. All of that follows, and most of us can scarcely agree on the process
of the examination, much less any conclusions. This book will prove most
thought provoking and helpful."
—Rev. Dr. Richard B. Gilbert, BCC, Resources Hotline,
Volume 3, Number 26
ABOUT THE BOOK
This volume, published as a special issue from OMEGA—Journal of Death and Dying presents a number of theoretical
and empirical articles on the topic of euthanasia, doctor-assisted suicide
and suicide. We have examined the first extended data available in America
with regard to the 93 physician-assisted deaths of Drs. Kevorkian and Reding.
We examine the roles of biological verses psychological factors in the
patient's decision to actively hasten their death. The role of gender,
age, social economic status, ethnic-national-religious ancestry and marital-status
have been examined in depth through quasi-psychological autopsies when
available, often with very troubling implications. In addition, we present
some preliminary work on seven cases of physician-assisted suicides in
Australia.
Gender and age bias in particular seen to run like
a thin but discernible red thread throughout these studies and also in
a trio of attitude studies on high school students, college students and
adults. The preponderance of disability as opposed to terminality in the
Kevorkian-Reding cases also raises a red flag, suggesting that the fears
of advocacy groups of people with disabilities may not be unfounded. The
role of pain is also quite interesting. It seems to operate differently
for men and women.
In the service of providing a theoretical framework
to better discuss these issues, guide research and craft legislation, we
concluded this volume by proposing a multifaceted model of doctor-assisted
death focusing as a good reporter, on the six pronouns: who, what, where,
why and how. We hope this set of questions provide a framework
in which to consider the weighty issue of doctor aid in dying.
Intended audience: Educators, physicians, researchers,
clinicians, service providers, clergy.
ABOUT THE EDITOR
Kalman J. Kaplan, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of
Psychology at Wayne State University and the director of the Center for
Suicide Research and Prevention at Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center:
Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Kaplan is Editor of the Journal of Psychology
and Judaism: Religion, Culture and Personality. Dr. Kaplan is also
an Editorial Board member of OMEGA: Journal of Death of Dying and
has reviewed articles for a number of journals in psychiatry, psychology,
religious thought, legal issues, and medical ethics. He is currently a
consultant to the American Psychological Association Working Group for
End of Life Issues. Dr. Kaplan has published widely in the areas of interpersonal
relations and biblical psychology as well as suicide among the mentally
and physically ill. He is co-recipient of the 1998 Alexander Gralnick award
for best original work on suicide and schizophrenia. Dr. Kaplan is also
the author of TILT: Teaching Individuals to Live Together (Taylor
and Francis, 1998), which develops an original model of human behavior
which proposes an integration of individuation and attachment in human
relations. He is co-author of A Psychology of Hope: An Antidote to the
Suicidal Pathology of Western Civilization (Praeger, 1993), Living
with Schizophrenia (Accelerated Development, 1997), and Jewish Approaches
to Suicide, Euthanasia and Martyrdom (Jason Aronson, 1998).
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