1. ASSISTED SUICIDE James G. Anderson, Ph.D. Professor of Sociology Purdue University

2. PATIENTS Competent adult Incompetent adult Mentally retarded Adolescents Children Infants

3. PASSSIVE EUTHANASIA Withdrawal of life support Ventilator Antibiotics Food and water

4. ACTIVE EUTHANASIA Voluntary Physician Assisted

5. ARGUMENTS FOR ASSISTED SUICIDE Individual’s right to self determination Alleviates pain and suffering Reduced costs Legitimates existing practice

6. ARGUMENTS AGAINST ASSISTED SUICIDE “Slippery slope” Lack of safe guards Compromises medical and nursing professions Diverts attention from real issues of dying

7. LEGAL STATUS Netherlands Australia 1988 California Humane and Dignified Death Initiative 1994-1997 Oregon Death with Dignity Act 1997 U.S. Supreme Court Ruling

8. Attitudes toward Participation in Physician-Assisted Suicide 1119 (74%) physicians 998 (76%) public

9. Two Choices

10. Three Choices Physicians

11. 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 drugs.