Assisted Suicide: The Liberal, Humanist Case Against Legalization

Kevin Yuill goes straight to the heart of a difficult issue. Critical of both sides of the discussion, this book presents an up-to-date analysis of the direction discussion is taking, showing that atheists, libertarians, and those favouring abortion rights and stem-cell research should stand beside their religious compatriots in opposing legalization of assisted suicide. The author shows that the real issue behind the debate is not euthanasia but suicide. Rather than focusing on tragic cases, he indicates the real damage that will be done if we affirm the suicidal wishes of even a small segment of the population. Analyzing the movement for the right to die in historical terms, Yuill shows that, though many proponents of a change in the law believe they are rationalist heirs of such thinkers as John Stuart Mill, legalizing assisted suicide will reduce privacy and freedom. Finally, Yuill suggests a radical alternative to legalization of assisted suicide that would embrace both the cause of freedom and the anxieties of many about securing good deaths.

Kevin Yuill lectures in History at the University of Sunderland, UK, specializing in the intellectual history of the twentieth century. He has published articles on assisted suicide in the Spectator, The Tablet and numerous other places. He is the author of Richard Nixon and the Rise of Affirmative Action.

Acknowledgements
Foreword by Brendan O'Neill
1. Introduction
2. Defining the Terms
3. An Analysis of the Key Arguments on Both Sides
4. The Origins of the Right-To-Die Movement
5. Thinking About Suicide
6. For Abortion, Against Assisted Suicide
7. The Libertarian Case Against Assisted Suicide
Notes and References
Index