Nursing, Civil Rights Law, Clinical Medicine

Hemlock's Cup: The Struggle for "Death with Dignity"

Name: Hemlock's Cup: The Struggle for "Death with Dignity"
Author: Donald W. Cox
ISBN: 9780879758080

by Donald W. Cox, Ralph Mero

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Overview

"Mercy killing," "assisting a suicide," "planning your own death," and "euthanasia" are once again high-profile issues. Recent popular referendums have sought to legalize doctor-assisted suicide, while best-selling books have been published about how to kill yourself. In short, Americans are searching for more control over their own mortality.

Hemlock's Cup is the first history of the active euthanasia movement in America, as represented by its most visible proponent, the Hemlock Society. Donald W. Cox traces the growth of the society from its beginnings as a three-person cause to its current world-wide fame. The work of Derek Humphrey, the society's founder, is reviewed and the publicity surrounding Dr. Jack Kevorkian and his controversial "suicide machine" is discussed.

Cox also addresses the Washington and California initiatives to legalize doctor-assisted suicide and the ethical questions they pose. He reflects on the impact of the Quinlan and Cruzan cases to establish the "right to die" for all Americans and he explores the reasons for the delays in enacting living-will laws in various states. In addition, Cox examines the significant connections among AIDS, abortion, and assisted suicide.

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Editorials

William Beatty

His father's drawn-out, vegetative death turned Cox's attention toward the problems of death with dignity. Here he first describes the development of the Hemlock Society and the work of its cofounder, Derek Humphry, then deals with the major cases Quinlan, Cruzan, etc. and the court decisions concerning them that have called attention to the issues of aided and allowed death before devoting four chapters to controversial Michigan pathologist Jack Kevorkian, for whom he harbors ambivalent feelings. Cox handles the federal Patient Self-Determination Act and the story of the ultimately unsuccessful ballot Initiative #119 in Washington State especially well, and he also examines other laws proposed to address death-with-dignity issues. Finally, he compares the abortion and assisted-death controversies, considers what right-to-die proponents could learn from AIDS-counseling organizations, and seeks to clarify "The Ethical-Medical Issue." The appendixes, as valuable as they are varied, include "Planning for Death with Dignity--A Checklist," historical summaries, texts of laws, and legal forms.

Booknews

A history of the active euthanasia movement in America, as represented by its most visible proponent, the Hemlock Society. The work of Derek Humphrey, the society's founder, is reviewed, and the publicity surrounding Dr. Jack Kevorkian is discussed. Numerous related issues are also examined. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)