Includes bibliographical references (p. [228]-242) and index.

Introduction -- Why assisted death has become an important public policy issue -- The euthanasia and assisted suicide underground -- The aims of this study -- Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in the Netherlands -- The path to legalization -- The law of 2002 decriminalizing euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide -- Empirical data on the practice of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide : who, when, why, where, and how -- Problems in the practice of euthanasia and physician assisted suicide : failure to report cases of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide -- Ending life without explicit request of the patient -- Termination of life in pediatric cases -- Assisted death for patients with mental suffering -- Can palliative care eliminate the need for assisted death? -- The dutch regime of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide assessed -- Voluntary euthanasia in Belgium -- How Belgium legalized euthanasia -- The law on euthanasia of May 28, 2002 -- The practice of euthanasia since 2002 -- Assisted suicide in Switzerland -- Exit German Switzerland Association for a humane death -- Exit/association pour le droit de mourir dans la dignité/Suisse Romande -- Dignitas -- Other right-to-die organizations -- The public debate on assisted suicide -- Physician-assisted suicide in Oregon -- A legal obstacle course -- The Death With Dignity Act (DWDA) -- Years of physician-assisted death -- Criticism and problem areas -- Assisted death as a last resort -- Lessons from four regimes of assisted death -- A model statute for physician-assisted suicide -- Dilemmas and promise of legalized assisted death.