EUTHANASIA - AN INTRODUCTION

It has been argued that euthanasia is one of the most pressing social concerns of our times, A review of current scientific and legal materi als, however, indicates that this issue is a complex and contentious o ne that crosses numerous perspectives and theoretical orientations. In order to provide background for the other articles in this collection , we present a brief history, of attitudes tow,ard euthanasia, In addi tion, various terms that are associated with the concept of euthanasia are defined. Finally, this paper provides a framework for the article s that follow by suggesting that three central issues must be addresse d in order resolve the controversies surrounding euthanasia. These are (1) the establishment of standardized criteria of euthanasia eligibil ity (2) the investigation of public attitudes regarding acceptable mea ns for engaging in euthanasia, and (3) the evaluation of the roles of professionals who are directly involved in euthanasia decisions, We ho pe that the following articles will provide insight into these issues.