EUTHANASIA AND PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE - A SOCIAL-WORK UPDATE

Considering the recent actions of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, Dr. Timothy Quil l and the Hemlock Society's initiatives for legalizing physician assis ted suicide for special cases in the states of Washington, Oregon and California, arguments for and against euthanasia and physician assiste d suicide have grown into a substantial and impassioned debate. This p aper outlines and analyzes salient issues within the controversy of le galizing physician assisted suicide for terminally ill patients. It hi ghlights significant issues for state and federal policy formation and further suggests unique roles which medical social workers might play in developing and implementing a compassionate and reliable system fo r caring for the terminally ill.