Euthanasia and Law in Europe

Description

This book is a successor to J Griffiths, A Bood and H Weyers, Euthanasia and Law in the Netherlands (Amsterdam University Press 1998) which was widely praised for its thoroughness, clarity, and accuracy. The new book emphasises recent legal developments and new research, and has been expanded to include a full treatment of Belgium, where since 2002 euthanasia has also become legal. The book also includes descriptions written by local specialists of the legal situation and what is known about actual practice in a number of other European countries (England and Wales, France, Italy, Scandinavia, Spain, Switzerland). The book strives for as complete and dispassionate a description of the situation as possible. It covers in detail: - the substantive law applicable to euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, withholding and withdrawing treatment, use of pain relief in potentially lethal doses, palliative and terminal sedation, and termination of life without a request (in particular in the case of newborn babies); -the process of legal development that has led to the current state of the law; -the system of legal control and its operation in practice; -the results of empirical research concerning actual medical practice. A concluding part deals with some general questions that arise out of the material presented: Is the legalisation of euthanasia an example of the decline of law or should it, on the contrary, be seen as part and parcel of the increasing juridification of the doctor-patient relationship? Does the Dutch experience with legalised euthanasia support the idea of a 'slippery slope' toward a situation in which life-especially of the more vulnerable members of society-is less effectively protected? Is it possible to explain and to predict when a society will decide to legalise euthanasia?

John Griffiths is Professor of Sociology of Law (Emeritus) at the University of Groningen. Heleen Weyers is Lecturer in Legal Theory at the University of Groningen. Maurice Adams is Professor of Law at Tilburg University (the Netherlands) and part time Professor of Comparative Law at the University of Antwerp (Belgium).

Euthanasia and Law in Europe addresses each country individually, providing a helpful background on each's health care system and a historical context for that country's approach to euthanasia...[The] real-world incidents supply some of the most interesting and instructional reading in the book and may be fascinating to those who live in countries where such actions are not only illegal but in many instances viewed as unethical or immoral by large swaths of the population...the authors have written a comprehensive account of euthanasia and current law in Europe that will provide any reader with a solid understanding of the subject. Alan G. Williams, JD JAMA, Journal of the American Medical Association 2008;300(14) If you want to know everything about euthanasia law in Europe, consult Euthanasia and law in Europe. Joost Visser Medisch Contact Volume number 63, 1 August 2008 (nr. 31-32) ...for those interested in euthanasia and end-of-life decisions, this is a comprehensive and interesting book. Christof Muller-Busch European Journal of Palliative Care Vol 15:6, 2008 I was very impressed by the thorough analysis of Parts I-III...provides a comprehensive analysis of the euthanasia law in Europe... Fabrice Jotterand HEC Forum (2009) 21 (1): 107-111 This comprehensive overview volume on the legal regulation and practice of mercy killing in Europe, has three outstanding characteristics: First it offers unique and detailed views of the reality of mercy killing in the Netherlands and Belgium. Secondly, these two detailed contributions are supported by short empirical reports from England, France, Italy, Scandinavia, Spain and Switzerland. Even if I the basic position of the main authors, maintaining the illegality of medical killing on demand or from compassion, remains highly problematic, this volume is greatly enriching and is much recommended. Markus Zimmermann-Acklin Bioethica Forum Volume 1, Number 2, December 2008 Euthanasia and Law in Europe is a book of real weight - it is superbly researched, consummately serious, and resolutely unbiased. For these reasons, it is an extraordinarily valuable book, and even though it is about European law and practice, its value is not limited to European readers. It also serves as a model of dispassionate discussion for readers elsewhere, including the United States...The book is dense with information about legal, medical, and ethical issues, and heroic attention is given to minute detail...the book is eminently readable, a definitive account of euthanasia practices, and a model for accounts that might be made of similar practices elsewhere. Margaret P. Battin The New England Journal of Medicine 360;18, 30th April 2009 ...offers a thorough description of the current situation in Europe as to the [Medical Behaviour that Potentially Shortens Life]. It deserves to be read on all kinds of levels, surely including the Vatican one. Ton Vink Filosofie & Praktijk Vol 30, No 1 (2009) Part 1 of the book is crucial reading for those who wish to fully comprehend the current requirements for lawful euthanasia and other MBPSL in the Netherlands and the broader societal context in which these requirements exist...[this] book contains a wealth of valuable information and will undoubtedly be utilised as a 'one-stop' resource for those seeking to discover more about the way in which the Netherlands, Belgium and other European countries have dealt with the thorny issue of euthanasia and other MBPSL. As a study in comparative law, this book is undoubtedly a success. It will certainly encourage other researchers to further analyse the material it presents and engage in the thematic questions the authors raise. Suzanne Ost Medical Law Review The material is presented in a serious, instructive style with factual information accompanied by applicable public policy considerations. Journal of the Commonwealth Lawyers' Association Vol. 17, No. 3, December 08 This highly impressive work is both a successor to and expansion of the subject matter of Griffiths' and Weyers' earlier Euthanasia and Law in the Netherlands (1998)...One can but hope that the debates to follow are informed by sources as painstakingly researched and cogently argued as this book... Colin Gavaghan The Edinburgh Law Review Vol 13, Issue 2, May 2009 It is almost unbelievably thorough, and each and every detail is documented. Good and thought provoking chapters address the difficult reflections that spring to mind in this field. Peter F. Hjort (translated by L.J. Materstvedt) Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforen 128: 2357-8 (2008) The scientific clarity of the definitions provided makes possible the terminological and conceptual clarification that is essential if one wants to deal with such matters in a serene and unambiguous way. Written in simple and flowing English, not at all technical or erudite, the book will be a usef