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9781409451921

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"'This is by far and away the most engaging and compelling discussion of the politics of euthanasia as it has converged on the lives of the most deeply forgetful, whose morally protected status under the principle of ""do no harm"" is regularly undermined by sweeping negative generalizations in media and politics about their experiences. The idea that their lives mean so little is popularized by 'hypercognitive' and ""hypereconomic"" outsiders who not only fail to understand the experience of dementia, but who use the deeply forgetful as convenient pawns in their political-ideological games. Here we finally have a book that reclaims dignity.' Stephen G. Post, Stony Brook University, New York 'This book demonstrates how perceptions of dementia have changed. Alzheimer's disease in particular is presented as a terrifying calamity with pre-emptive euthanasia as ultimate remedy. Portraying this disease as worse than death fuels an ideological crusade to promote ending life as a treatment option. It is time to stop this pro-death propaganda. Dr. Johnstone provides the arguments and strategies.' Henk ten Have, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, USA 'Considering the emotionally charged and rather specialized topic, the text may be suited to mental health practitioners working with older adults, particularly those concerned with end-of-life care. Professionals with a distinct interest in normative, media or linguistic issues may find it equally attractive. ... Megan-Jayne Johnstone provides a valuable perspective onto potential broadcasting biases an important ethical issue of our times.' Journal of Mental Health 'For those interested in understanding the current debate and enhancing their ability to critique, implement and create subsequently related policies, it is likely that this book will be of great help. ... this book will be an excellent addition to the library of academics, students, doctors, clinicians and caregivers.' Critical Social Policy 'This is an excellent resource, dealing as it does with the stigmatisation and invisibility that has long been associated with the disease. Johnstone shows clearly how the metaphors that are used to represent Alzheimer's disease - the epidemic metaphor, the military metaphor, the predatory thief metaphor - contribute to the social death of the person with dementia. ... Johnstone provides a comprehensive account of both the pro-euthanasia and anti-euthanasia arguments and locates them in the context of western liberal democratic societies.' Sociology of Health and Illness 'This well-researched and well-written book could not have come at a more opportune time for Canadian readers. It is relevant to scholars in the fields of aging, palliative care, dementia, ethics, and law as well as members of the general public who are facing the difficult decisions which are the topic of this book. ... Whatever one's opinions are on the subject, this book lays out the issues, conflicts, and common suppositions that fuel the arguments in a cogent and readable fashion. I would recommend it to all health care practitioners who deal with any combination of the following: (a) clinical care, (b) policy formulation, (c) ethics, (d) law and the interface between dementia, (e) end-of-life care, and (f) options for professionally assisted death. It will further be of interest to anyone interested in pondering the broader implications in terms of the basic respect and compassion for those living with dementia, and how and whether human meaning can be continued and enhanced despite the ravages of illnesses related to dementia.' Canadian Journal on Aging 'This book is a richly researched, intellectually exciting, and complex work. It is so rich that even if one doesn't accept all or some of her arguments, the book deserves close attention. ... this book would make a wonderful source for a graduate seminar in health care ethics. It is provocative, challenging, informed, interesting, and complex.' Martha Holstein, The Gerontologist 'This book tackles an important subject and is a scholarly work that will be well received by a specialist audience, whether health-care professionals, ethicists or policy analysts. ... The book makes an original contribution in bringing together a wider range of material that would not be easily accessed otherwise. It also sets the euthanasia-dementia debate in the wider context of the ways in which other debates in health and aged care have been conducted.' Australasian Journal on Ageing 'Johnstone offers a comprehensive insight into how the debate on euthanasia/physician-assisted suicide has been framed in policy, literature and the public domain. ... She provides a clear and detailed account of how social movement entrepreneurs have legitimised and mobilised support for euthanasia. ... Her analyses are detailed and clear, and while the book weaves many threads through its exploration of this subject, they are perfectly woven, providing clarity and insight. ... [Johnstone] challenges the reader to go beyond the rhetoric on both sides of the euthanasia debate and provides the tools and information to do just that.' Ageing and Society"

...an interesting sociological take on Alzheimer's disease and the construction of the euthanasia debate. As such, it will appeal to readers from those disciplines seeking to explore techniques used in the media and political debate in greater depth. Laura Pritchard-Jones, Centre for Social Ethics and Policy, School of Law, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK, Medical Law Review

'This is by far and away the most engaging and compelling discussion of the politics of euthanasia as it has converged on the lives of the most deeply forgetful, whose morally protected status under the principle of do no harm is regularly undermined by sweeping negative generalizations in media and politics about their experiences. The idea that their lives mean so little is popularized by 'hypercognitive' and hypereconomic outsiders who not only fail to understand the experience of dementia, but who use the deeply forgetful as convenient pawns in their political-ideological games. Here we finally have a book that reclaims dignity.' Stephen G. Post, Stony Brook University, New York 'This book demonstrates how perceptions of dementia have changed. Alzheimer's disease in particular is presented as a terrifying calamity with pre-emptive euthanasia as ultimate remedy. Portraying this disease as worse than death fuels an ideological crusade to promote ending life as a treatment option. It is time to stop this pro-death propaganda. Dr. Johnstone provides the arguments and strategies.' Henk ten Have, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, USA 'Considering the emotionally charged and rather specialized topic, the text may be suited to mental health practitioners working with older adults, particularly those concerned with end-of-life care. Professionals with a distinct interest in normative, media or linguistic issues may find it equally attractive. ... Megan-Jayne Johnstone provides a valuable perspective onto potential broadcasting biases an important ethical issue of our times.' Journal of Mental Health 'For those interested in understanding the current debate and enhancing their ability to critique, implement and create subsequently related policies, it is likely that this book will be of great help. ... this book will be an excellent addition to the library of academics, students, doctors, clinicians and caregivers.' Critical Social Policy 'This is an excellent resource, dealing as it does with the stigmatisation and invisibility that has long been associated with the disease. Johnstone shows clearly how the metaphors that are used to represent Alzheimer's disease - the epidemic metaphor, the military metaphor, the predatory thief metaphor - contribute to the social death of the person with dementia. ... Johnstone provides a comprehensive account of both the pro-euthanasia and anti-euthanasia arguments and locates them in the context of western liberal democratic societies.' Sociology of Health and Illness 'This well-researched and well-written book could not have come at a more opportune time for Canadian readers. It is relevant to scholars in the fields of aging, palliative care, dementia, ethics, and law as well as members of the general public who are facing the difficult decisions which are the topic of this book. ... Whatever one's opinions are on the subject, this book lays out the issues, conflicts, and common suppositions that fuel the arguments in a cogent and readable fashion. I would recommend it to all health care practitioners who deal with any combination of the following: (a) clinical care, (b) policy formulation, (c) ethics, (d) law and the interface between dementia, (e) end-of-life care, and (f) options for professionally assisted death. It will further be of interest to anyone interested in pondering the broader implications in terms of the basic respect and compassion for those living with dementia, and how and whether human meaning can be continued and enhanced despite the ravages of illnesses related to dementia.' Canadian Journal on Aging 'This book is a richly researched, intellectually exciting, and complex work. It is so rich that even if one doesn't accept all or some of her arguments, the book deserves close attention. ... this book would make a wonderful source for a graduate seminar in health care ethics. It is provocative, challenging, informed, interesting, and complex.' Martha Holstein, The Gerontologist 'This book tackles an important subject and is a scholarly work that will be well received by a specialist audience, whether health-care professionals, ethicists or policy analysts. ... The book makes an original contribution in bringing together a wider range of material that would not be easily accessed otherwise. It also sets the euthanasia-dementia debate in the wider context of the ways in which other debates in health and aged care have been conducted.' Australasian Journal on Ageing 'Johnstone offers a comprehensive insight into how the debate on euthanasia/physician-assisted suicide has been framed in policy, literature and the public domain. ... She provides a clear and detailed account of how social movement entrepreneurs have legitimised and mobilised support for euthanasia. ... Her analyses are detailed and clear, and while the book weaves many threads through its exploration of this subject, they are perfectly woven, providing clarity and insight. ... [Johnstone] challenges the reader to go beyond the rhetoric on both sides of the euthanasia debate and provides the tools and information to do just that.' Ageing and Society

'This is by far and away the most engaging and compelling discussion of the politics of euthanasia as it has converged on the lives of the most deeply forgetful, whose morally protected status under the principle of do no harm is regularly undermined by sweeping negative generalizations in media and politics about their experiences. The idea that their lives mean so little is popularized by 'hypercognitive' and hypereconomic outsiders who not only fail to understand the experience of dementia, but who use the deeply forgetful as convenient pawns in their political-ideological games. Here we finally have a book that reclaims dignity.'Stephen G. Post, Stony Brook University, New York'This book demonstrates how perceptions of dementia have changed. Alzheimer's disease in particular is presented as a terrifying calamity with pre-emptive euthanasia as ultimate remedy. Portraying this disease as worse than death fuels an ideological crusade to promote ending life as a treatment option. It is time to stop this pro-death propaganda. Dr. Johnstone provides the arguments and strategies.'Henk ten Have, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, USA

Author Information

Megan-Jane Johnstone is Professor of Nursing and Director of the Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research at Deakin University, Australia. She is author of Bioethics: A Nursing Perspective, Nursing and the Injustices of the Law, and co-author of Ethics in Nursing Practice.

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