Negotiating a Good Death
Euthanasia in the Netherlands
1st Edition
Published on 1. May 2014
272 pages
978-1-135-41405-4 (ISBN)
Description
Should human beings be allowed to decide when to die? Should doctors be allowed to assist them?During the last ten years there has been much international interest in euthanasia in the Netherlands. In the discussion of euthanasia in the US and the UK, both sides in the debate continually refer to the "Dutch Experience". Negotiating a Good Death: Euthanasia in the Netherlands presents firsthand descriptions of euthanasia in practice in the Netherlands--something that has never been done before. This will provide a deeper understanding of the issues involved for all those interested in end-of-life decisions. It will also help clinicians and other medical professionals better understand end-of-life decision making.Negotiating a Good Death is the first inside account of how decisions about euthanasia are made in real-life situations. Documenting two years of observations at a Dutch hospital, this valuable book describes why patients request euthanasia, the social factors that influence doctors'decisions about granting patients'requests, and how patients and doctors confer over peaceful deaths. Some aspects of this delicate, often hidden, and socially taboo subject that Negotiating a Good Death frankly discusses are:
the emotions that lead to a wish for death
the ideology of easy death
the anthropology of death
the role of the researcher
the line between symptom alleviation and euthanasia
where the responsibility lies
conservative options for medical personnel
how to speak to relatives of someone who has requested euthanasia
euthanasia as a cultural construct
Through case studies and examples, Negotiating a Good Death: Euthanasia in the Netherlands will help you understand the issues surrounding euthanasia and how life-ending decisions are made by both doctors and patients.
the emotions that lead to a wish for death
the ideology of easy death
the anthropology of death
the role of the researcher
the line between symptom alleviation and euthanasia
where the responsibility lies
conservative options for medical personnel
how to speak to relatives of someone who has requested euthanasia
euthanasia as a cultural construct
Through case studies and examples, Negotiating a Good Death: Euthanasia in the Netherlands will help you understand the issues surrounding euthanasia and how life-ending decisions are made by both doctors and patients.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Reflowable
File size
2,32 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-135-41405-4 (9781135414054)
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
10/2000
1st Edition
Routledge
€76.20
Shipment within 10-20 days
Persons
Carlton Muson
Content
Contents
Preface. Euthanasia in the Netherlands: Twenty-Five Years of Debate
The Present Study
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. Death and the Anthropologist: On the Problem of Studying Euthanasia
The End: The Death of David
Emotion and the Anthropology of Death
Participant Observation
Performative Ethnography
Chapter 2. Euthanasia According to the Rules
The Endoscopy Room
The Attending Physician
Mrs. Kees
The Son
The Psychologist
The Second Opinion
Dr. Van Ham
The Head Nurse
The Daughter
Euthanasia
The Coroner
The Anesthetist
The Euthanasia Request
The Participants
Did She Really Want to Die?
The Rules of Due Care
On the Role of the Researcher Once More
Chapter 3. Where the Responsibility Lies
Mrs. Van Nelle
She Wants Euthanasia, but She is Afraid to Take the Responsibility
Increasing the Morphine
Was She Suffering Unbearably?
Did She Really Want to Die?
Dr. Glas's Intention
Assuming Responsibility
Chapter 4. The Line Between Euthanasia and Symptom Alleviation
Mr. Strasser's Denial
The Reversal
Gerrit Knol's Interpretation
Dr. Schuyt's Interpretation
Was It Euthanasia or Just Symptom Alleviation?
Chapter 5. Coping with Pressure from the Family
Mrs. Lanser
Mrs. Jones
The Euthanasia Requests, the Relatives, and the Conservative Option
Chapter 6. A Reflexive Intermezzo
Dialogue
The Doctors' Discussion
Themes
Chapter 7. Turning off Mr. Joost's Respirator
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
The Joost Family
Shifting the Boundary
Turning Off the Respirator
What the Nurses Said, and What They Meant
Doubt, Uncertainty, and Hesitation
Chapter 8. When Doctors Refuse a Euthanasia Request
Mr. Oosten's Euthanasia Request
Mr. Oosten's Death
The Nursing Records
The Doctors' Interpretations
When Is Euthanasia Negotiable?
Euthanasia and Alleviation
Chapter 9. The Negotiation Process
Prerounds Discussion on the AIDS Ward
Background of the Euthanasia Request
The Request
Bryan Mayflower
The Request Considered
Preparations
The Mystery
Dr. Edelman and the AIDS Patients
Was It the Right Decision?
Chapter 10. Unreported Euthanasia
Uncle Max's Story
Increasing the Morphine
Euthanasia
Where Was the Specialist? Dr. Schuyt's Explanation
The Reason Why
Chapter 11. The Social Context of Euthanasia
The Patients
The Relatives
The Ideology of Easy Death
Control and the Negotiation of a Good Death
The Doctors
The Nurses
The Culture of the Ward
Language, Discouse, and Communication
Chapter 12. What is Euthanasia?
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
Euthanasia and Symptom Alleviation
Euthanasia and the Withdrawal or Nonimplementation of Life-Prolonging Treatment
Euthanasia As Cultural Construct
Appendix. Euthanasia Declaration
Notes
References
Index
Preface. Euthanasia in the Netherlands: Twenty-Five Years of Debate
The Present Study
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. Death and the Anthropologist: On the Problem of Studying Euthanasia
The End: The Death of David
Emotion and the Anthropology of Death
Participant Observation
Performative Ethnography
Chapter 2. Euthanasia According to the Rules
The Endoscopy Room
The Attending Physician
Mrs. Kees
The Son
The Psychologist
The Second Opinion
Dr. Van Ham
The Head Nurse
The Daughter
Euthanasia
The Coroner
The Anesthetist
The Euthanasia Request
The Participants
Did She Really Want to Die?
The Rules of Due Care
On the Role of the Researcher Once More
Chapter 3. Where the Responsibility Lies
Mrs. Van Nelle
She Wants Euthanasia, but She is Afraid to Take the Responsibility
Increasing the Morphine
Was She Suffering Unbearably?
Did She Really Want to Die?
Dr. Glas's Intention
Assuming Responsibility
Chapter 4. The Line Between Euthanasia and Symptom Alleviation
Mr. Strasser's Denial
The Reversal
Gerrit Knol's Interpretation
Dr. Schuyt's Interpretation
Was It Euthanasia or Just Symptom Alleviation?
Chapter 5. Coping with Pressure from the Family
Mrs. Lanser
Mrs. Jones
The Euthanasia Requests, the Relatives, and the Conservative Option
Chapter 6. A Reflexive Intermezzo
Dialogue
The Doctors' Discussion
Themes
Chapter 7. Turning off Mr. Joost's Respirator
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
The Joost Family
Shifting the Boundary
Turning Off the Respirator
What the Nurses Said, and What They Meant
Doubt, Uncertainty, and Hesitation
Chapter 8. When Doctors Refuse a Euthanasia Request
Mr. Oosten's Euthanasia Request
Mr. Oosten's Death
The Nursing Records
The Doctors' Interpretations
When Is Euthanasia Negotiable?
Euthanasia and Alleviation
Chapter 9. The Negotiation Process
Prerounds Discussion on the AIDS Ward
Background of the Euthanasia Request
The Request
Bryan Mayflower
The Request Considered
Preparations
The Mystery
Dr. Edelman and the AIDS Patients
Was It the Right Decision?
Chapter 10. Unreported Euthanasia
Uncle Max's Story
Increasing the Morphine
Euthanasia
Where Was the Specialist? Dr. Schuyt's Explanation
The Reason Why
Chapter 11. The Social Context of Euthanasia
The Patients
The Relatives
The Ideology of Easy Death
Control and the Negotiation of a Good Death
The Doctors
The Nurses
The Culture of the Ward
Language, Discouse, and Communication
Chapter 12. What is Euthanasia?
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
Euthanasia and Symptom Alleviation
Euthanasia and the Withdrawal or Nonimplementation of Life-Prolonging Treatment
Euthanasia As Cultural Construct
Appendix. Euthanasia Declaration
Notes
References
Index
