Biggar N
Aiming to kill.  The ethics of suicide
Darton Longman and Todd, 2004
£12.95

The author asks three questions about the euthanasia and assisted suicide debate: What is it that makes human life valuable?  Can it ever be moral to intend to kill someone?  How much should we fear the wider social effects of legalising euthanasia or assisted suicide?  He draws on theological and philosophical viewpoints in discussing his arguments.

Church of England
On dying well. A contribution to the euthanasia debate. 2nd edition.
Church House Publishing, 2000
£4.95

Originally published in 1974, this is the report of a working party of the Board of Social Responsibility of the Church of England. It discusses arguments for and against euthanasia- while it recognises that there may be exceptional cases, nevertheless it concludes that the case for legalising voluntary euthanasia is not one that can be supported. There is a preface to the second edition - twenty-five years on - by Prof J Stuart Horner.
 
Keown J
Euthanasia, ethics and public policy.  An argument against legalisation
Cambridge University Press, 2002
£20.99

This book commences with definitions of voluntary euthanasia.  It provides an ethical background to the subject.  The experience of legislation in countries/states where it has been legalised is described - Netherlands, Oregon (USA) and Northern Territory (Australia).  Information on various international expert committees is given.  Finally it looks at legal cases where it has been an issue in the UK in recent years.  The author is senior lecturer in the Law and Ethics of Medicine, Cambridge University. 
 
Randall F Downie R.S. et al
Palliative care ethics. 2nd edition
Oxford University Press, 1999
£48.00

While there is some discussion of euthanasia in this book, the authors are primarily concerned with other ethical situations in palliative care. These are the patient/professional carer relationship, the relative/professional relationship, the process of clinical decision-making, giving information and confidentiality. There are also chapters on emotional care, resource allocation, quality and value of life, and patient autonomy. There is an interesting, somewhat controversial, chapter entitled "Reply to critics" - which are the authors'' own comments on their first edition and what book critics said about it.  
 
Saunders C
Caring to the end
Nursing Mirror 1980 vol151 no12 p52-3
£0.10

This article provides a brief but clear account of Dame Cicely Saunders'' attitude to euthanasia.
 
Saunders C
Caring to the end
The Way 1981 March p5
£0.20

This short article by Dame Cicely Saunders outlines her views on euthanasia and is the only one available for sale in the bookshop.  However, she has written other articles on the subject, details of which are in the Halley Stewart Library at St Christopher''s Hospice.

For further information and details please contact the Librarian, St Christopher''s Hospice

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