Assisted Dying and Legal Change

This book looks comparatively at the process of legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide and its effects, examining how the way in which assisted dying is legalized affects the kind of regime that is produced. It suggests that the experience of one jurisdiction cannot readily be translated to another, arguing for a subtler understanding against the backgrounds of diverse legal and political cultures. This examination suggests that greater caution is needed before relying on the experience of one jurisdiction when discussing proposals for regulation of assisted dying in others, and the possible consequences of such regulation. The book seeks to demonstrate the need to explore the legal environment in which assisted dying is performed or proposed in order to evaluate the relevance of a particular legal experience to other jurisdictions.