Disability and Health Journal
Volume 3, Issue 1 , Pages 56-70 , January 2010

Public health, populations, and lethal ingestion

  • Kirk C. Allison, Ph.D., M.S.

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author: 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 164. Fax: (612) 626–3908.

References 

  1. Patients' Rights to Self-Determination at the End of Life. Policy 20086. October 28, 2008. Available at: http://www.apha.org/advocacy/policy/policysearch/default.htm?id=1372. Accessed July 9, 2009.
  2. The Oregon Death with Dignity Act. Oregon Revised Statutes 127.800–127.995. Available at: http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/127.html. Accessed July 1, 2009. Also: Available at: http://egov.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/pas/ors.shtml.
  3. Jacobson v. Com. of Massachusetts, 197 US 11(1905). Available at: http://supreme.justia.com/us/197/11/case.html. Accessed November 13, 2009.
  4. Stern AM. Sterilized in the name of public health and population policy: race, immigration, and reproductive control in modern California. American Journal of Public Health. 2005;95(7):1128–1138
  5. Lee W, Price A, Rayner L, Hotopf M. Survey of doctors' opinions on the legalization of physician assisted sucide. BMC Medical Ethics. 2009;2:10;Available at http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6939/10/2
  6. Chemerinsky E. Washington v. Glucksberg was tragically wrong. Michigan Law Review. 2008;106:1501–1516
  7. Dolan JM. Is physician-assisted suicide possible?. Duquesne Law Review. 1996;35(1):355–394
  8. Schwarzenneger C, Sommers S. Assisted suicide in Switzerland. Zurich: Hearing with the Select Committee on the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill bill, House of Lords; February 3, 2005;Available at http://www.rwi.uzh.ch/lehreforschung/alphabetisch/schwarzenegger/publikationen/assisted-suicide-Switzerland.pdfAccessed June 30, 2009
  9. Ziegler SJ. Collaborated death: an exploration of the Swiss model of assisted suicide for its potential to enhance oversight and demedicalize the dying process. J Law Med Ethics. 2009;37(2):318–330
  10. Oregon Revised Statutes 127.880 §3.14. Construction of Act. [Oregon Death with Dignity Act.] Available at: https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/127.880.html. Accessed July 1, 2009.
  11. International task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. Oregon plays word games with Assisted suicide. Update. 2006;20(5):Available at http://www.internationaltaskforce.org/iua39.htmAccessed July 17, 2009
  12. O'Reilly KB. Oregon nixes use of term “physician-assisted suicide.” Right-to-die advocates hope that changing the language may help pass laws in other states. amednews.com. Nov. 6, 2006;Available at: http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/11/06/prsc1106.htm
  13. Garrow D. The right to die: death with dignity in America. Miss. Law Journal. 1998;68(430):407–430
  14. Humphreys D. Stick to plain English. Register-Guard (Eugene, OR). November 7, 2006;A8
  15. Artelt W. Studien zur Geschichte der Begriffe “Heilmittel” und “Gift”: Homer, Urzeit, Corpus Hippocraticum. Studien zur Geschichte der Medizin. Heft 23. Leipzig: J.A. Barth; 1937.
  16. 70.245.180 RCW. Washington Death with Dignity Act. Authority of chapter–References to practices under this chapter–Applicable standard of care. (Effective March 5, 2009.) Available at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.245.180. Accessed July 8, 2009.
  17. American Academy of Hospiceand Palliative Medicine Board of Directors. Physician-assisted death. Position Statement. February 14, 2007. Available at: http://www.aahpm.org/positions/suicide.html. Accessed July 1, 2009.
  18. “dignity.” Oxford English Dictionary Online. Second Edition, 1985.
  19. Callahan D. Organized obfuscation: Advocacy for physician-assisted suicide. Hastings Center Rep. 2008;38(5):30–32
  20. Chochinov HM, Hack T, Hassard T, et al. Dignity in the terminally ill: a cross-sectional, cohort study. Lancet. 2002;360(9350):2026–2030
  21. University of Minnesota School of Public Health sport shirt. Ca. 2004.
  22. Constitution of the World Health Organization. April 27, 1946.
  23. Burke MA. Operationalizing human rights and human security through a dynamic model of health. Rev Disabil Stud. 2009;5(3):23–37
  24. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. December 16, 1966. Available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cescr.htm. Accessed July 10, 2009.
  25. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. December 10, 1946. Available at: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/Introduction.aspx. Accessed July 11, 2009.
  26. Murray CJL. Quantifying the burden of disease: The technical basis for disability-adjusted life years. Bull WHO. 1994;72:429–445Available at http://whqlibdoc.who.int/bulletin/1994/Vol72-No3/bulletin_1994_72(3)_429-445.pdfAccessed July 13, 2009
  27. Murray CJL. Understanding DALYs. J Health Econ. 1996;16:703–730
  28. Sudhir A, Hanson K. Disability Adjusted Life Years: a critical review. In:  Anand S,  Fabienne P,  Sen A editor. Public Health Ethics and Equity. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2004;p. 183–200
  29. Allison KC. Human security, social cohesion and disability. Rev Disabil Stud. 2009;5(3):3–9
  30. Dolan JM. Judging someone better off dead. Logos. 1999;2(1):48–671999
  31. American Medical Society. Opinion 2.211 Physician-assisted suicide. AMA Code of Medical Ethics. Available at: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/medical-ethics/code-medical-ethics/opinion2211.shtml. Accessed June 30, 2009.
  32. American Geriatrics Society. Physician assisted suicide and voluntary active euthanasia. American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Position Statement. AGS Ethics Committee. Last updated 2007. Available at: http://www.americangeriatrics.org/products/positionpapers/vae94.shtml. Accessed June 25, 2009.
  33. Craig A, Cronin B, Eward W, et al. Attitudes toward physician-assisted suicide among physicians in Vermont. J Med Ethics. 2007;33(7):400–403
  34. American Geriatrics Society. The care of dying patients. American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Position Statement. AGS Ethics Committee. Last updated 2007. Available at: http://www.americangeriatrics.org/products/positionpapers/careofd.shtml. Accessed June 25, 2009.
  35. Wolbring G. The politics of ableism. Development. 2008;51(2):252–258
  36. Scott J. Final Exit leader approved every suicide application. Atlanta Journal Constitution. March 7, 2009;Available at http://www.ajc.com/feeds/content/metro/stories/2009/03/07/final_exit_suicide_Egbert.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=13Accessed July 1, 2009
  37. American Medical Women's Association. AMWA aid in dying position statement. September 9, 2007.
  38. American College of Legal Medicine. ACLM policy on aid in dying. October 6, 2008.
  39. American Medical Students Association. Principles regarding physician aid in dying. November 13, 2009. Available at: http://www.amsa.org/AMSA/Libraries/Exec_Docs/2009_AMSA_Preamble_Purposes_and_Principles.sflb.ashx. Accessed July 17, 2009.
  40. Puntillo KA, Benner P, Drought T, et al. End-of-life issues in intensive care units: a national random survey of nurses' knowledge and beliefs. Am J Crit Care. 2001;10(4):216–229
  41. Lister S, Charter D. BMA drops opposition to doctor-assisted suicide. TimesOnline. July 1, 2005;Available at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article539179.eceAccessed July 6, 2009
  42. BMA. Assisted dying—a summary of the BMA's position. February 20, 2009. Available at: http://www.bma.org.uk/ethics/end_life_issues/Assisdyingsum.jsp. Accessed July 6, 2009.
  43. Bowcott O. Doctors oppose legal protection for assisted suicide relatives. guardian.co.uk. July 1, 2009. Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/jul/01/bma-doctors-assisted-suicide-relatives. Accessed July 6, 2009.
  44. “Quality of life.” Res A-7, A-07. Washington State Medical Association Policy Compendium. Revised August, 2008. Available at: http://www.wsma.org/files/Downloads/AboutUs/pdf/policy_compendium_08.pdf. Accessed July 7, 2009.
  45. Goodloe NR, Allison KC. Email correspondence. I-1000 Death with Dignity—WSPHA endorsement information query. October 22, 2008.
  46. Goodloe NR, Allison KC. Email correspondence. I-1000 Death with Dignity—WSPHA endorsement information query. October 31, 2008.
  47. Brief of the American Public Health Association as Amicus Curiae in support of respondents. Supreme Court of the United States. Alberto R. Gonzales, Attorney General, et al., Petitioners, v. Oregon, et al., Respondents. United States Supreme Court No. 04–623. July 2005. Available at: http://www.drugpolicy.org/docUploads/APHA_Oregon_brief2004.pdf. Accessed July 15, 2009.
  48. Gonzales v. Oregon (04-623). 546 U.S. 243(2006). 368 F.3d 1118, Affirmed. Available at: http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/04–623.ZS.html. Accessed July 17, 2009.
  49. Death with dignity. APHA Policy 8123 (archived). January 1, 1981.
  50. International Task Force on Euthanasia & Assisted Suicide. Tables: Failed attempts to legalize assisted suicide in state legislatures after Oregon approved the practice in 1994 / States that passed laws banning assisted suicide after Oregon legalized it / States that had initiative/referendum ballot measures to legalize PAS/euthanasia. Update. 2007;21(2):3
  51. FAQs about the Death with Dignity Act. Available at: http://egov.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/pas/faqs.shtml. Accessed July 15, 2009.
  52. Fromme EK, Tilden VP, Drach LL, Tolle SW. Increased family reports of pain or distress in dying Oregonians: 1996 to 2002. J Palliat Med. 2004;7(3):431–442
  53. Tolle SW, Hickman S, Tilden VP, et al. Trends in opioid use over time: 1997-1999. J Palliate Med. 2004;7:39–45
  54. Hedberg K, Hopkins D, Leman R, Kohn M. The 10-year experience of Oregon's Death with Dignity Act: 1998-2007. J Clin Ethics. 2009;20(2):124–132
  55. Ganzini L, et al. Attitudes of Oregon psychiatrists toward physician-assisted suicide. Am J Psychiatry. 1996;153(11):1469–1475
  56. Tucker KL. D2/D8 Death with Dignity. Resubmitted June 16, 2007. Joint Policy Committee Group D: Public Health Science and Infrastructure. American Public Health Association 135th Annual Meeting and Exposition. 2007. Available at: http://www.apha.org/NR/rdonlyres/75274A25-D95C-4678-B54E-C1176A096498/0/D2D8APHAFINAL.pdf.
  57. Tucker KL. D1 Patients' Rights to Self-Determination at the End of Life. Resubmitted June 2008. Joint Policy Committee Group D: Public Health Science and Infrastructure. American Public Health Association 136th Annual Meeting and Exposition. 2008. Available at: http://www.apha.org/NR/rdonlyres/2B1CC75D-FFA6-4FCB-B630-929403F16946/0/D1June08Resubmission.pdf.
  58. Allison KC. In opposition to proposed policy “D2/D8: Death with Dignity.” 247.0 Joint Policy Committee Hearings–Group D. American Public Health Association 135th Annual Meeting and Exposition. Washington, DC. November 4, 2007.
  59. Allison KC. In opposition to proposed policy “D1: Patients' rights to self-determination at the end of life.” 263.0 Joint Policy Committee Public Hearings Group D. American Public Health Association 135th Annual Meeting and Exposition. San Diego, CA. October 26, 2008.
  60. Glossary of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Terms. United States Department of Health and Human Services. Available at: http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/diction.shtml. Accessed August 21, 2007.
  61. Barnard C. Good Life, Good Death: A Doctor's Case for Euthanasia and Suicide. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall; 1980;
  62. Issue Brief No. 1. Oregon's nursing shortage: A public health crisis in the making. Portland, OR: Northwest Health Foundation; 2001;
  63. Schiller F. Über Anmut und Würde. [On Grace and Dignity.]. Neue Thalia. 1793;2(2):
  64. Hamilton G. Oregon's culture of silence. In:  Foley K,  Hendin H editor. The Case Against Assisted Suicide. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press; 2002;p. 173–191
  65. American Public Health Association. Supporting appropriate language used to discuss end of life choices. Policy LB-06–02. November 8, 2006. Archived.
  66. Dore M. Death with dignity. What do we tell our clients? Washington State Bar Association Bar News. 2009; July. Available at: http://wsba.org/media/publications/barnews/jul-09+deathwithdignity.htm. Accessed July 23, 2009.
  67. Smith W. Assisted suicide in Oregon: piercing the myth. In:  Ars B,  Montenero E editor. Suffering and Dignity in the Twilight of Life. European Institute of Bioethics. The Hague: Kugler Publications; 2004;p. 71–86
  68. Hendin H, Foley K. Physician-assisted suicide in Oregon: a medical perspective. Mich Law Rev. 2008;106:1613–1639
  69. Korn P. Nurses' role in death probed. Portland Tribune. July 6, 2007;
  70. Korn P. Nursing board chief resigns. Portland Tribune. August 31, 2007;
  71. Oregon State Board of Nursing Management Review and Assessment by a Review Team Appointed by the Director, Department of Administrative Services. August 27, 2007. Available at: http://egov.oregon.gov/MortCem/Meetings/20070925_ED2d.pdf. Accessed October 26, 2008.
  72. van der Lee ML, van der Born JG, Swarte NB, et al. Euthanasia and depression: a prospective cohort study among terminally ill cancer patients. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23:6607–6612
  73. Chochinov HM, Hack T, Hassard T, et al. Understanding the will to live in patients nearing death. Psychosomatics. 2005;46(1):7–10
  74. Ganzini L, Goy ER, Dobscha SK. Prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients requesting physicians' aid in dying: cross sectional survey. BMJ. 2008;7337:a1682;Available at http://www.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/337/oct07_2/a1682Accessed July 14, 2009
  75. Higginson G, Hedberg K. Regarding Oregon's Death with Dignity Act and Oregon State Public Health's Role. Oregon Health Services. June 16, 1998;Available at http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/pas/ohdrole.shtml
  76. Oregon Death with Dignity Act Annual Reports. Available at: http://egov.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/pas/ar-index.shtml. Accessed July 14, 2009.
  77. Mannix K, Witt B. House Bill 2547. A Bill for an act relating to Oregon Death with Dignity Act amending ORS 127.855, 127.865 and 127.885. 70th Oregon Legislative Assembly–1999 Regular Session. Available at: http://www.leg.state.or.us/99reg/measures/hb2500.dir/hb2547.int.html. Accessed July 1, 2009.
  78. Editorial Board of the Oregonian. Washington State's assisted suicide measure: don't go there. The Oregonian. September 20, 2008;Available at http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2008/09/washington_states_assistedsuic.htmlAccessed July 10, 2009
  79. Campbell CS. Ten years of “Death with Dignity.”. The New Atlantis. 2008;22:33–46
  80. Hedberg K, Tolle S. Putting Oregon's Death with Dignity Act in perspective: Characteristics of decedents who did not participate. J Clin Ethics. 2009;20(2):133–135
  81. Stevens KR. Emotional and psychological effects of physician assisted suicide and euthanasia on participating physicians. Issues Law Med. 2006;21(3):187–200
  82. Quackenbusch M. Bill Kane passionate practitioner. Am J Public Health. 2008;98(11):1949–1952
  83. s.n. We'll pay you to die, but not to live. BioEdge. July 30, 2008. Available at: http://www.bioedge.org/index.php/bioethics/bioethics_article/well_pay_you_to_die_but_not_to_live. Accessed on July 29, 2008. Also: Letter noting assisted suicide raises questions. KATU News [video], s.d. Available at: http://www.katu.com/news/26119539.html?video=YHI&t=a Accessed July 14, 2009.
  84. Oregonian Editorial Board. Fix this medical ethics glitch. The Oregonian. July 29, 2008;D06
  85. Battin MP, van der Heide A, Ganzini L, et al. Legal physician-assisted dying in Oregon and the Netherlands: evidence concerning the impact on patients in “vulnerable” groups. J Med Ethics. 2007;33:591–597
  86. Grogan E, Thorns A, Campbell C, et al. Are vulnerable groups less likely to receive assisted suicide?. J Med Ethics. November 8, 2007;[Online]. Available at: http://jme.bmj.com/content/33/10/591.abstract/reply#medethics_el_1842Accessed July 14, 2007
  87. Berger JT. Patients' concerns for family burden: a nonconforming preference in standards for surrogate decision making. J Clin Ethics. 2009;20(2):158–161
  88. Ganzini L, Dobscha SK. Clarifying distinctions between contemplating and completing physician-assisted suicide. J Clin Ethics. 2006;15(2):119–122
  89. Initiative Measure 1000. The Washington Death with Dignity Act. Available at: http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/osos/en/Documents/I1000-Text%20for%20web.pdf. Accessed July 7, 2009.
  90. The Washington Death with Dignity Act. Passed November 4, 2008, and codified as RCW 70.245. Available at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.245. Accessed July 7, 2009.
  91. 70.245.040 (2) RCW. Washington Death with Dignity Act. Attending physician responsibilities. (Effective March 5, 2009.) Available at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.245.040. Accessed July 7, 2009.
  92. Washington State Medical Association. As I-1000 signatures are counted, Washington State Medical Association opposition to physician-assisted suicide reiterated. July 2, 2008. Available at: http://www.wsma.org/files/Downloads/NewsEvents/PressReleases/pr_I1000_%20release.pdf. Accessed October 21, 2008.
  93. “Cause of death certification.” Res B-5, A-03. Washington State Medical Association Policy Compendium. Revised August, 2008. Available at: http://www.wsma.org/files/Downloads/AboutUs/pdf/policy_compendium_08.pdf. Accessed July 7, 2009.
  94. 70.245.160 RCW. Washington Death with Dignity Act. Effect of Construction of Wills, Contracts and Statutes. (Effective March 5, 2009.) Available at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.245.160. Accessed July 7, 2009.
  95. Instructions for completing the Cause of Death section of the death certificate. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/blue_form.pdf. Accessed July 10, 2009.
  96. Center for Disease Control. Physicians' Handbook on Medical Certification of Death. 2003 Revision. (PHS) 2003-1108. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/misc/hb_cod.pdf. Accessed July 11, 2009.
  97. National Death Index. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/r&d/ndi/what_is_ndi.htm. Accessed July 13, 2009.
  98. Center for Disease Control. Medical Examiners' and Coroners' Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting. 2003 Revision. (PHS) 2003-1110. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/misc/hb_me.pdf. Accessed July 11, 2009.
  99. Center for Disease Control. Funeral Directors' Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting. 2003 Revision. (PHS) 2005-1109. Accessed July 11, 2009.
  100. Cause of Death. National Association of Medical Examiners. Accessed July 10, 2009.
  101. Aristotle. Physics II 3 and Metaphysics V 2.
  102. Instructions for Physicians and Other Medical Certifiers for Death Certificates: Compliance with the Death with Dignity Act. Washington State Health Department Center for Health Statistics. Death with Dignity Act. Death Certificate Instructions. Available at: http://www.doh.wa.gov/dwda/forms/MedicalCertifiers.pdf. Accessed July 8, 2009.
  103. Met Life Mature Market Institute, National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, Center for Gerontology at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Broken Trust: Elders, Family, and Finances. March 2009. Available at: http://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/mmi/publications/studies/mmi-study-broken-trust-elders-family-finances.pdf.
  104. Washington State Health Department Center for Health Statistics. Death with Dignity Act. Death Certificate Instructions. Available at: http://www.doh.wa.gov/dwda/instructions.htm. Accessed July 8, 2009.
  105. Instructions for Funeral Directors: Compliance with the Death with Dignity Act. Washington State Health Department Center for Health Statistics. Death with Dignity Act. Death Certificate Instructions. Available at: http://www.doh.wa.gov/dwda/forms/FuneralDirectors.pdf. Accessed July 8, 2009.
  106. Instructions for Local Registrars: Compliance with the Death with Dignity Act. Washington State Health Department Center for Health Statistics. Death with Dignity Act. Death Certificate Instructions. Available at: http://www.doh.wa.gov/dwda/forms/LocalRegistrars.pdf. Accessed July 8, 2009.
  107. Instructions for Medical Examiners, Coroners, and Prosecuting Attorneys: Compliance with the Death with Dignity Act. Washington State Health Department Center for Health Statistics. Death with Dignity Act. Death Certificate Instructions. Available at: http://www.doh.wa.gov/dwda/forms/MEsAndCoroners.pdf. Accessed July 8, 2009.
  108. Moral distress. ACCN Position Paper. August, 2008. 1–3. Available at: http://www.aacn.org/WD/Practice/Docs/Moral_Distress.pdf. Accessed July 9, 2009.
  109. Austin JL. How to Do Things With Words. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 1962;
  110. RCW 43.70.160. Duties of registrar. Available at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.70.160. Accessed July 8, 2009.
  111. 70.245.170 RCW. Washington Death with Dignity Act. Insurance or Annuity Policies. (Effective March 5, 2009.) Available at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.245.170. Accessed July 7, 2009.
  112. Goodloe NR. Washington State Public Health Association President's Report to the Members, Annual Business Meeting, Joint Conference on Health, October 7, 2008.
  113. Task Force to Improve the Care of Terminally Ill Oregonians. The Oregon Death with Dignity Act: A Guidebook for Health Care Providers. 2008. Available at: http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/education/continuing-education/center-for-ethics/ethics-outreach/upload/Oregon-Death-with-Dignity-Act-Guidebook.pdf. Accessed July 15, 2009.
  114. Baile WF, DiMaggio J, Schapira DV, Janofsky JS. The request for assistance in dying: the need for psychiatric consultation. Cancer. 1993;72:2786–2791
  115. Brief of Amicus Curiae Coalition of Mental Health Professionals, WL 1748170 at 17, Gonzales v. Oregon, 126 S. Ct. 904 (2006) (No. 04–623).
  116. Psychiatric/Psychologist Consultant's Compliance Form. Oregon State Public Health Division Center for Health Statistics. Available at: http://egov.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/pas/docs/psyform.pdf. Accessed July 14, 2009. Washington: Available at: http://www.doh.wa.gov/dwda/forms/PsychForm.pdf.
  117. Spindelman M. Death, dying and domination. Mich Law Rev. 2008;106:1641–1667
  118. No authority to investigate Death with Dignity case. DHS news release. March 4, 2005. Available at: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/news/2005news/2005-0304a.shtml. Accessed July 14, 2009.
  119. DeShaney v. Winnebago County Dep't of Soc, Servs., 489 U.S. 189, 195(1989). Available at: http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0489_0189_ZS.html. Accessed July 14, 2009.
  120. Bouvia v. Superior Court, 225 Cal, Rptr, 297 (Ct, App, 1986) at 306, in Spindelman at 1646.
  121. Yardley W. First death for Washington assisted suicide law. New York Times. May 22, 2009;Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/23/us/23suicide.html
  122. New York State Task Force on Life & the Law. When Death is Sought: Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia in the Medical Context. 1994. Available at: http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/provider/death.htm. Accessed July 14, 2007.
  123. Keats J. Ode to a Nightingale. Poetical Works. London: Macmillan, 1884; Bartleby.com, 1999. www.bartleby.com/126/40.html. Accessed July 10, 2009.
  124. Warnock M, Macdonald E. Easeful Death: Is There a Case for Assisted Dying?. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2008;
  125. Hoeldtke NJ, Calhoun BC. Perinatal hospice. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2001;185(3):525–529
  126. Rurup ML. De rol van de arts bij verzoeken om hulp bij levensbeëindiging van patiënten die ‘lijden aan het leven’; het rapport van de commissie-Dijkhuis van de KNMG. [The role of the physician in requests for physician-assisted suicide in patients who are ‘suffering from life’: the Dijkhuis Report commissioned by the Royal Dutch Medical Association.]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskunde. 2005;149(39):1245–1247
  127. Durrenberger S, Rogers T, Walker R, et al. The high costs of care for four patients with mania who were not compliant with treatment. Psychiatric Serv. 1999;50:1539–1542
  128. Binding K, Hoche A. Die Freigabe zur Vernichtung lebensunwertes Lebens. Ihr Mass und ihre Form. [The release for destruction of life unworthy of life. Its measure and its form.] Verlag von Felix Meiner in Leipzig, 1920.
  129. Joseph J. The 1942 ‘euthanasia’ debate in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Hist Psychiatry. 2005;16(62 Pt 2):171–179
  130. Beckford M. Baroness Warnock: Dementia suffers may have a ‘duty to die’. Telegraph.co.uk. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2983652/Baroness-Warnock-Dementia-sufferers-may-have-a-duty-to-die.html. Accessed July 11, 2009.
  131. “compassion.” Oxford English Dictionary Online, 2nd ed. 1985.
  132. Morgan SP, Taylor MG. Low fertility at the turn of the twenty-first century. Annul Rev Sociol. 2006;32:375–399
  133. Espenshade TJ, Guzman JC, Westoff CF. The surprising global variation in replacement fertility. Popul Res Pol Rev. 2003;22:575–583
  134. Central Intelligence Agency. Country comparison: Total fertility rate. World Factbook Online. 2009;Available at: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2127rank.html
  135. Pabst Battin M. Global life expectancies and international justice. A reemergence of the duty to die?. In: Ending Life. New York: Oxford University Press; 2005;p. 280–300
  136. Easterly W. The ghost of financing gap: testing the growth model used in international financial institutions. J Dev Econ. 1999;60:423–438
  137. Transparency International. Surveys and indices: Corruption Perception Index; Global Corruption Barometer; Bribe Payers Index. Available at: http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices. Accessed July 12, 2009.
  138. Engelhardt HT. The Foundations of Christian Bioethics. Lisse, Exton: Swets & Zeitlinger; 2000;
  139. An Inconvenient Truth. Hollywood: Paramount Pictures; 2006;
  140. Muller RA. Global warming. In: Physics for Future Presidents. New York, London: WW Norton; 2008;p. 257–346

 Financial disclosure: This research was supported by the Program in Human Rights and Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health. I have no conflicts of interest to declare. One may consider a potential conflict of interest to be that I am an American Public Health Association member and was a participant in policy discussions on the topic, including hearings at the 2007 and 2008 APHA annual meetings. In that regard I presented in opposition to the draft policy resolutions and encouraged APHA to not support physician-assisted suicide as public health policy. (I make mention of presenting in opposition in the body of the article.)

PII: S1936-6574(09)00151-4

doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2009.09.005

Disability and Health Journal
Volume 3, Issue 1 , Pages 56-70 , January 2010