Includes bibliographical references and index.

Why consider opposing viewpoints? -- Introduction -- ch. 1. Is euthanasia ethical? -- Chapter preface -- 1. Christianity condemns voluntary euthanasia / Chris Armstrong -- 2. Christianity should condone voluntary euthanasia / John Shelby Spong -- 3. Euthanasia relieves suffering / South Australia Voluntary Euthanasia Society -- 4. Euthanasia distorts the meaning of mercy / Trudy Chun and Marian Wallace -- 5. Euthanasia enhances personal freedom / Thomas Preston, Martin Gunderson, and David J. Mayo -- 6. Euthanasia undermines personal freedom / John Shelby Keown -- Periodical bibliography -- ch. 2. Should physician-assisted suicide be legal? -- Chapter preface -- 1. Legalizing physician-assisted suicide would harm society / Margaret Somerville -- 2. Legalizing physician-assisted suicide would reduce harm to society / Roger S. Magnusson -- 3. Improved end-of-life care would make assisted suicide unnecessary / Ira Byock, interviewed by Steve Gordon -- 4. Improved end-of-life care would not make assisted suicide unnecessary / Timothy E. Quill, Margaret P. Battin -- 5. Legalizing assisted suicide would make killing too easy / Matthew Parris -- 6. Legalizing assisted suicide is premature / Yvonne Mak, Glyn Elwyn, and Ilora G. Finlay -- Periodical bibliography --

ch. 3. Would legalizing voluntary euthanasia lead to abuses? -- Chapter preface -- 1. Legalizing voluntary euthanasia would lead to nonvoluntary euthanasia / John Keown -- 2. Legalizing voluntary euthanasia would not lead to nonvoluntary euthanasia / Jocelyn Downie -- 3. Oregon's assisted suicide experience : safeguards do not work / Oregon Right to Life -- 4. Legalizing physician-assisted suicide in Oregon has not led to abuses / Death with Dignity National Center -- 5. Legalizing voluntary euthanasia would harm the disabled / Barry Corbet -- 6. Legalizing voluntary euthanasia would not harm the disabled / David J. Mayo and Martin Gunderson -- Periodical bibliography -- ch. 4. When should life support be stopped? -- Chapter preface -- 1. Feeding tubes should be removed from patients in a persistent vegetative state / John Collins Harvey -- 2. Feeding tubes should not be removed from patients diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state / Wesley J. Smith -- 3. Doctors should stop treatment that is futile / Kevin T. Keith -- 4. Doctors should not deny wanted treatment / Lynn Vincent -- 5. Living wills allow patients to control when life support stops / Ruthe C. Ashley -- 6. Living wills fail to give patients control over life support / Angela Fagerlin and Carl E. Schneider -- Periodical bibliography -- For further discussion -- Organizations to contact -- Bibliography -- Index.