John B. Mitchell is Professor of Law at Seattle University School of LawAssisted suicide remains one of the most emotionally charged and controversial topicsand the issue isn't going away any time soon. As the baby boomer generation ages, many of us will watch as our parentsand ourselvesgrow older, and wonder at the decisions that lie ahead. Understanding Assisted Suicideprovides both a fresh take on this important topic and the framework for intelligent participation in the discussion. Uniquely, the author frames the issue using his own experience watching both his parents die, which led him to ask fundamental questions about death, dying, religion, and the role of medicine and technology in alleviating human suffering. In concerns about assisted suicide, each person's "big picture" has largely been created out of picking and choosing from nine separate snapshot albums. Understanding this offers a perspective for quickly determining the sources of another's opinion on assisted suicide, as well as the issues they are not considering. Most importantly,Understanding Assisted Suicideoffers a clear, easy-to-traverse landscape over which those who are sincerely looking for their own answers can navigate. The "nine-issue structure" allows both careful exploration of separate issues and a view of the full spectrum of ideas involved.The question of assisted suicide retains a powerful grip on our minds and our imaginations as one of the most emotionally charged and controversial topics of our time. It is the border beyond which most of us fear to tread. Even so, the issue isn't going away soon: as the baby boomer generation ages, many of us will watch ourselves and our parents grow older, and wonder at the decisions that lie ahead.
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