A Merciful End: The Euthanasia Movement in Modern America

This book doesn't simply recount a dry record of various episodes of euthanasia but rather addresses the real history of euthanasia through a host of issues (ideological origins, concepts, etc.) that demand our attention when dealing with the subject. The author does an excellent job of maintaining an objective stance for the most part. This isn't intended as an argument for or against but rather how and why euthanasia and similar issues should remain at the top or our priorities. However, for the record, upon learning the ideological origins and history of the euthanasia movement, its direct link to eugenics, its connection with various unscrupulous individuals as founders and instigators, etc., reasonable people will find it very difficult to support euthanasia.In short, the author traces the origins of euthanasia, both ideological as well as geographical and cultural. We find that although various forms of euthanasia have existed probably since our beginning, in terms of a formal movement or social agenda the modern idea finds its roots firmly planted in the fairly recent history having its earliest beginnings in the Enlightenment (at least with certain individuals during the Enlightenment) but not materializing until Darwin. Just the discussions concerning euthanasia and its connection with Darwinist ideology and Humanism more than merit anyone's serious attention. The author truly deserves credit for the research involved in writing this book. The bibliography and notes comprise almost a quarter of the books bulk. He takes you all the way to the bedrock principles that drive euthanasia and where they came from with all the proof any reasonable person could want for his conclusions concerning euthanasia's history. He is insightful without being biased, complete but brief, factual and detailed while not boring or cumbersome.In my view, the greatest value of this little book lies on two fronts: First, its unsaid and indirect prompting of any rational person to seriously question why you would support or not support euthanasia. Second, it forces a reflective individual to delve into much deeper philosophical water concerning the existence of God, human life and its value or lack thereof, and the direction we as human beings should take in the future concerning these and other such issues. In short, this book prompts us to think. I can think of no higher compliment to give.

This is an important book. Well written and informed by careful study of the subject, it is highly readable and informative. Anyone interested in understanding the push to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia will profit from reading Dowbiggin's important contribution to the field.

Didn't hold my interest. And I'm interested in the subject.

Young or old, every person in America needs to read this book. It will give you cause for great thought and think about the one subject no one ever wants to broach.

This book is extremely interesting about ideas which have caused great debate, not only in the US but in other countries around the world. Sadly, it is almost unreadable on Kindle. Apparently it was scanned in from a manuscript with a horrible font and no matter what I did, I could barely make out words. Which is sad, from a book of this quality.I downloaded a sample, which btw is very large so it gives you a good start on the book. But I won't buy the Kindle version; I will attempt to find the hard copy in the library.Whatever you think about these issues, reading this book will certainly enlarge your viewpoint and equip you with a more thorough understanding of the history of these ideas.

Dishonestly titled, Dowbiggin's "A Merciful End" is a biased work by an anti-euthanasia ideologue.He's a privileged slippery sloper, just as mendacious as all the other slippery slopers who flatter religious bigotry byinvoking the specters of past abuses to justify enormous current oppression (see same-sex slippery slopers).Eugenics dominated social science in the first part of the 201th century, including in the religions like the Catholic Church that Dowbiggin so clearly allies himself with. That euthanasia/eugenics alliance is dead, though not to Dowbiggin.Medical care in the US, and across the world, reflects the inequities of class and race, yet not to Dowbiggin - he is fine with the status quo, except when he can pretend to have sympathy for poor/minority victims of the alleged slippery slope He sees a principled slippery slope anti-euthanasia stance in the AMA, whose members derive great billable hours and procedures from keeping prolonged intensive suffering going from rich white people. Care for the terminally suffering appeals to religions, who exploit the vulnerability of sick people and their relatives to further their societal holds.The US medical system must have universal, single -payer coverage. The US medical system must include Physician-Assisted Suicide. Any other outcome, such as the one Dowbiggin has hitched his horse to, denies the civil rights of people to humane medical care in living and dying.

This book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the historical beginning of the euthanasia movement in modern America and its eugenic philosophy of life.