Gender and Physician-Assisted Suicide
An Analysis of the Kevorkian Cases, 1990–1997
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 13630381 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Silvia S Canetto (0000-0002-9282-7747, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, corresponding author), Janet D Hollenshead (Colorado State University, Fort Collins) |
| Year | 2000 |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 165-208 |
| Publication date | 2000-02-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0030-2228 • E-ISSN: 1541-3764 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.2190/av9g-cdru-1h83-gq0x |
| PMID | 12577944 |
| OpenAlex | W2328295449 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 8 |
| References cited | 39 |
This study examines the seventy-five suicide cases Dr. Jack Kevorkian acknowledged assisting during the period between 1990-1997. Although these cases represent a range of regional and occupational backgrounds, a significant majority are women. Most of these individuals had a disabling, chronic, nonterminal-stage illness. In five female cases, the medical examiner found no evidence of disease whatsoever. About half of the women were between the ages of forty-one and sixty, and another third were older adults. Men's conditions were somewhat less likely than women's to be chronic and nonterminal-stage. The main reasons for the hastened death mentioned by both the person and their significant others were having disabilities, being in pain, and fear of being a burden. The predominance of women among Kevorkian's assisted suicides contrasts with national trends in suicide mortality, where men are a clear majority. It is possible that individuals whose death was hastened by Kevorkian are not representative of physician-assisted suicide cases around the country, because of Kevorkian's unique approach. Alternatively, the preponderance of women among Kevorkian's assisted suicides may represent a real phenomenon. One possibility is that, in the United States, assisted suicide is particularly acceptable for women. Individual, interpersonal, social, economic, and cultural factors encouraging assisted suicide in women are examined
Psychiatry · Demography · Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse · Medicine · Psychology · Reproductive Health and Contraception · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies · Gerontology
Her name was Clodagh
An Update on the Kevorkian-Reding 93 Physician-Assisted Deaths in Michigan
Older Women and Mercy Killing
Summary
Why does Zeno the Stoic Hold His Breath? “Zenoism” as a New Variable for Studying Suicide
Men's Mercy Killing of Women
Psychological and Ethical Considerations Concerning the Debreather and Assisted Suicide
Biblical versus Greek Narratives for Suicide Prevention and Life Promotion
Physician-Assisted Suicide and the Profession's Gyrocompass
Middle-age suicide
Physical Illness, Psychiatric Illness, and the Acceptability of Suicide
Structural Parameters of Sex, Race, Age, and Education and their Influence on Attitudes toward Suicide
Ageism and sexism in suicide attitudes
In a Different Voice
Feminist perspectives in medical ethics
Dying for Money
Gender, Culture, and Suicidal Behavior
| Unique citing works | 8 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,31 |
| Citation span | 2000 - 2021 (22) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 8 |