A dignified dying

"This important book arose out of a series of discussions on voluntary euthanasia held at the University of Tubingen at the end of 1994. In it a distinguished theologian and a distinguished literary critic examine the case for voluntary euthanasia in certain well-defined circumstances and come down firmly in favour of it." "First, Hans Kung argues passionately for help in dying to be allowed in certain cases. He looks in depth at questions of life and death and at the arguments for and against euthanasia, in terms of the very nature of life, human responsibility, the theological position over euthanasia, and the hope that Christians have about what men and women die into. Then Walter Jens shows how modern literature in particular, both fiction from Tolstoy to Philip Roth and Carson McCullers, and Sherwin T. Nulands best-selling How We Die have illuminated the process of dying and also help to shed light on the question of euthanasia. Dietrich Niethammer, a medical doctor, and Albin Eser, a doctor of law, both add comments from their perspectives and the book ends with a discussion of the points made." "In an epilogue written specially for the English language edition, Hans Kung relates the position of the book to Evangelium vitae, the most recent papal encyclical on moral issues."--BOOK JACKET.