Eugenics, euthanasia, and physician assisted suicide: An overview for rehabilitation professionals

Abstract

Eugenics, euthanasia, and physician assisted suicide are controversial practices. These value-laden topics have polarized opinions across all segments of society. Advances in the Human Genome Project, increased knowledge of the Nazi atrocities against persons with disabilities, and recent court decisions regarding the right to die have combined to reignite old, or foster further debates about these practices. Rehabilitation professionals are noticeably absent from the discussion. Review of the literature reflects that the scholarly and popular writing on these topics lie outside the rehabilitation field. The present literature review provides the rehabilitation professional with a primer about these controversial topics, discuss models for conceptualizing the debate, reviews the implications for the field of rehabilitation and suggests areas for future research.

Publication Title

Journal of Rehabilitation

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