Euthanasia     Text-only version for printing     [back to graphical version]
The following guide provides Web site links, a list of selected books, and access to online periodical articles about this subject. The Web site links have been researched, evaluated, and annotated by Rio Hondo College Librarians. The Librarians have specifically selected these Web sites to meet the research needs of Rio Hondo College students

Web Site Links    

Euthanasia : The Debate Continues     http://www.mala.bc.ca/www/ipp/euthanas.htm
Although these essays were written for a Canadian audience, they address the issue of euthanasia with great insight and ask the difficult philosophical and moral question : Is it possible for us as a society to recognize and assert the fundamental importance of life while at the same time recognizing and asserting the right of a terminally ill patient to die with dignity?  These are both excellent, thought-provoking essays, written by scholars of philosophy and religion.

Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS)     http://www.religioustolerance.org/euthanas.htm
Excellent Website that speaks about this issue mainly from a religious perspective, identifying the positions held by the world's major religions.  The site also includes euthanasia laws in the United States and in other countries.

Euthanasia.com     http://www.euthanasia.com/
This  site provides information and research on euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, living wills, and mercy killing. It has links to numerous related topics, medical, legal, statistical and religions information.  Although the site is authored by the Pro-Life Council, it is a good starting point for research on the topic; it is well maintained and current. Some of the information is in Spanish.

Euthanasia ProCon.org     http://www.euthanasiaprocon.org
This site presents in a simple, nonpartisan pro-con format, responses to the core question "Should euthanasia be legal?"  questions about the topic are divided into issues and sub-issues.  All individuals and organizations quoted are ranked based upon a credibility scale.

Farewell to Hemlock - Killed By Its Name     http://www.assistedsuicide.org/farewell-to-hemlock.html
Euthanasia advocate Derek Humphry wrote this article about the demise of the "Hemlock Society," a famous right-to-die organization that he founded in 1980.  (Note: several of the circulating books in the Rio Hondo College library were written by Humphry.)

Regulating the Right to Die : The Supreme Court Considers Physician-Assisted Suicide / Catherine Hanssens. 1997.     http://www.thebody.com/hanssens/rt2die.html
Discusses the controversy over the right to die, taking into account all viewpoints.  The article is influenced by the author’s role as supporter of the civil rights of victims of HIV/AIDS.  The site is part of The Body, which has various Web sites on Legal Issues about assisted death.

Voluntary Euthanasia     http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/euthanasia-voluntary/
This entry is part of a larger site developed and maintained by the Philosophy Dept. of Stanford University.  The entry for euthanasia contains excellent definitions and arguments, both pro and con.  There are also links to other essays on this subject.

Online Databases (Rio Hondo Students only)   

Issue & Controversies @ FACTS.com     http://www.2facts.com
Has up-to-date, in-depth, and ojbective information on prominent and hotly debated issues.

Books
The following books can be located in the Rio Hondo College Library.

Reference Books (2nd floor)
Non-circulating:

Assisted suicide (Current controversies)
Call number: Ref R726.A852 2005

The debatabase book : a must-have guide for successful debate
Call  number: Ref ZA3050.D3945 2007x

The ethics of euthanasia (At issue) (Opposing viewpoints series)
Call number: Ref R726.E7753 2005

The right to die (At issue) (At issue. Civil liberties)
Call number: Ref KF3827.E87R58 2006

Suggested Subject Headings
For additional titles on this topic at Rio Hondo, click on the following Library of Congress subject headings:

Assisted suicide

Death

Euthanasia

Palliative treatment

Right to die

Media
The following media can be located in the Rio Hondo College Library, to be viewed in the Library.

An appointment with death
Call number: Video 000994
Focuses on medically-assisted suicide in Holland, the only nation where euthanasia is openly practiced and condoned, and the impact the Dutch experience may have on the euthanasia debate in the United States.

Death and dying : a conversation with Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, M.D.
Call number: Video 000197
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross discusses her work and philosophy, explaining how she handles death in her own family. She also shares her views on euthanasia and death with dignity.

On our own terms : Moyers on dying
Call number: Video 000492 pt. 3
[pt.3] A Death of One's Own : Unravels the complexities underlying the many choices at the end of life, including the bitter debate over physician-assisted suicide. Three patients, their families, and their doctors discuss some of the hardest decisions, including how to pay for care, what constitutes humane treatment, and how to balance dying and dignity.

Articles
The Rio Hondo College Library provides online access to full-text articles through our online databases http://www.library.edu/online_databases.htm.  Please note:  you must be a Rio Hondo College student, faculty, staff or board member to use these services.

The 6 sample searches below are from the ProQuest database.  Use Advanced Search and type each term in a separate box:

    1.  (SUB (euthanasia)) [from Peer-Reviewed Journals]
    2.  (SUB (euthanasia) and SUB (ethics) )
    3.  (SUB (euthanasia) and against )
    4.  (SUB (assisted suicide) and legaliz* )
    5.  (SUB (assisted suicide) and terminally ill )
    6.  ("Death with Dignity Act")

Researched and evaluated by:
E. Ball, Librarian 3/1998
last update: W. Enright, Librarian 11/2007

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