ASSISTED SUICIDEPATIENTSPASSSIVE EUTHANASIA Withdrawal of life supportACTIVE EUTHANASIAARGUMENTS FOR ASSISTED SUICIDEARGUMENTS AGAINST ASSISTED SUICIDELEGAL STATUSAttitudes toward Participation in Physician-Assisted SuicideTwo ChoicesThree Choices PhysiciansProblemsASSISTED SUICIDEJames G. Anderson, Ph.D.Professor of SociologyPurdue UniversityPATIENTS•Competent adult•Incompetent adult•Mentally retarded•Adolescents•Children•InfantsPASSSIVE EUTHANASIA Withdrawal of life support•Ventilator•Antibiotics•Food and waterACTIVE EUTHANASIA•Voluntary•Physician AssistedARGUMENTS FOR ASSISTED SUICIDE•Individual’s right to self determination•Alleviates pain and suffering•Reduced costs•Legitimates existing practiceARGUMENTS AGAINST ASSISTED SUICIDE•“Slippery slope”•Lack of safe guards•Compromises medical and nursing professions•Diverts attention from real issues of dyingLEGAL STATUS•Netherlands•Australia•1988 California Humane and Dignified Death Initiative•1994-1997 Oregon Death with Dignity Act•1997 U.S. Supreme Court RulingAttitudes toward Participation in Physician-Assisted Suicide•1119 (74%) physicians•998 (76%) publicTwo ChoicesPhysicians PublicLegalization 56% 66%Ban 36% 26%Uncertain 8% 8%Three ChoicesPhysiciansLegalization 40%Ban 17%No Law 37%Uncertain 5%Problems•Definition of terminal illness:Quadriplegic, Alzheimer's Disease, MS, Huntington’s Disease, ALS•Requirement of competence excludes: Alzheimer's Disease, Neonates, Persistent Vegetative State•Voluntary Euthanasia:Mistrust of physician, slippery slope•Physician-Assisted Suicide: Some patients unable to administer