At Liberty to Die
The Battle for Death with Dignity in America
Published on 11. June 2012
277 pages
978-0-8147-4527-4 (ISBN)
Description
"Ball's arguments are concise, compelling, and backed with considerable case law. This volume is highly recommended for upper-level undergraduates and above in law, philosophy, and the medical humanities interested in the 'right to die' debates. Summing up: Highly recommended." -Choice
Over the
past hundred years, average life expectancy in America has nearly doubled, due
largely to scientific and medical advances, but also as a consequence of safer
working conditions, a heightened awareness of the importance of diet and
health, and other factors. Yet while longevity is celebrated as an achievement
in modern civilization, the longer people live, the more likely they are to
succumb to chronic, terminal illnesses. In 1900, the average life expectancy
was 47 years, with a majority of American deaths attributed to influenza, tuberculosis,
pneumonia, or other diseases. In 2000, the average life expectancy was nearly
80 years, and for too many people, these long lifespans included cancer, heart
failure, Lou Gehrig's disease, AIDS, or other fatal illnesses, and with them,
came debilitating pain and the loss of a once-full and often independent
lifestyle. In this compelling and provocative book, noted legal scholar Howard
Ball poses the pressing question: is it appropriate, legally and ethically, for
a competent individual to have the liberty to decide how and when to die when
faced with a terminal illness?
At Liberty to Die charts how, the right
of a competent, terminally ill person to die on his or her own terms with the
help of a doctor has come deeply embroiled in debates about the relationship
between religion, civil liberties, politics, and law in American life.
Exploring both the legal rulings and the media frenzies that accompanied the
Terry Schiavo case and others like it, Howard Ball contends that despite raging
battles in all the states where right to die legislation has been proposed, the
opposition to the right to die is intractable in its stance. Combining
constitutional analysis, legal history, and current events, Ball surveys the
constitutional arguments that have driven the right to die debate.
Over the
past hundred years, average life expectancy in America has nearly doubled, due
largely to scientific and medical advances, but also as a consequence of safer
working conditions, a heightened awareness of the importance of diet and
health, and other factors. Yet while longevity is celebrated as an achievement
in modern civilization, the longer people live, the more likely they are to
succumb to chronic, terminal illnesses. In 1900, the average life expectancy
was 47 years, with a majority of American deaths attributed to influenza, tuberculosis,
pneumonia, or other diseases. In 2000, the average life expectancy was nearly
80 years, and for too many people, these long lifespans included cancer, heart
failure, Lou Gehrig's disease, AIDS, or other fatal illnesses, and with them,
came debilitating pain and the loss of a once-full and often independent
lifestyle. In this compelling and provocative book, noted legal scholar Howard
Ball poses the pressing question: is it appropriate, legally and ethically, for
a competent individual to have the liberty to decide how and when to die when
faced with a terminal illness?
At Liberty to Die charts how, the right
of a competent, terminally ill person to die on his or her own terms with the
help of a doctor has come deeply embroiled in debates about the relationship
between religion, civil liberties, politics, and law in American life.
Exploring both the legal rulings and the media frenzies that accompanied the
Terry Schiavo case and others like it, Howard Ball contends that despite raging
battles in all the states where right to die legislation has been proposed, the
opposition to the right to die is intractable in its stance. Combining
constitutional analysis, legal history, and current events, Ball surveys the
constitutional arguments that have driven the right to die debate.
Reviews / Votes
"A comprehensive and engaging history of the legal and political battles in courts and legislatures to recognize terminally-ill individuals' 'right to die with dignity.' A timely and informed contribution to an important and growing debate." - David M. O'Brien,Spicer Professor, Department of Politics, University of Virginia "Comprehensive, thoroughly engrossing, surprisingly balanced! At Liberty to Die is certain to become the definitive history of the wrenching debate over physician assisted death. Highly recommended!" - Tinsley E. Yarbrough,Emeritus professor of Political Science, East Carolina University "In his recently published book, Howard Ball does a superb job of documenting and explaining the key legal principles that frame the right-to-die debate in the United States.At Liberty to Die: The Battle for Death with Dignity in America illustrates clearly that jurisprudential matters are Ball's strong suit, and he plays his cards well, touching on all the key court cases while also covering the battles to enact right-to-die legislation in several states. The writing is crisp; the key points of disagreement are clearly laid out, the coverage is both balanced and comprehensive, and the context of the legal maneuvering provided by Ball throughout make his book an interesting as well as an educational read." - James M. Hoefler,Political Science Quarterly "Professor Ball provides an informative, thoughtful, and well-documented analysis...deftly set against a portrayal of the changing nature of death and dying in Americaespecially the locus of death and its attendant circumstancesa back story that is essential for understanding the impetus undergirding rights claims during this period." - Daniel Hillyard,Southern Illinois University Carbondale "In this valuable presentation of a large, important topic, Howard Ball skillfully narrates the history of the key cases and the legal, medical and political developments in a fast-moving process." (Metapsychology) "Ball here makes an important contribution to the growing literature on end-of-life issues with this legal history of the right to die in America....Law and political science students, along with activists, will find this a helpful book owing to its careful analysis of legislative and judicial actions across different states over the last 15 years as well as its careful delineation of the legal issues that animate debates over physician-assisted death." (Library Journal) "Ball's arguments are concise, compelling, and backed with considerable case law. This volume is highly recommended for upper-level undergraduates and above in law, philosophy, and the medical humanities interested in the 'right to die' debates. Summing up: Highly recommended." (Choice)More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
ISBN-13
978-0-8147-4527-4 (9780814745274)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
07/2013
New York University Press
€36.50
Shipment within 10-20 days
Person
Howard Ball is Emeritus Professor of Political Science and University Scholar at the University of Vermont and Adjunct Professor of Law at Vermont Law School.
Content
Introduction
1 The Changing Nature of Death in America
2 The Plight of the Incompetent Patient
in a "Permanent Vegetative State” (PVS)
3 Terri Schiavo's Tragic Odyssey, 1990-2005
4 What Freedom Do We Have to Die with Dignity?
The U.S. Supreme Court Decides, 1997
5 The Second Path to PAD: Passing Legislation
Allowing Death with Dignity
6 The Pioneering PAD States: Oregon and Washington
7 America's TransplantsNotes
Cases Cited
BibliographyIndex
About the Author
