scholarly journals Interest Group Lobbying on a Morality Policy Issue: The Case of Physician-Assisted Suicide in Michigan

2004 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 321-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Strate ◽  
Marvin Zalman
Keyword(s):  
Interest Groups ◽  
Interest Group ◽  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Policy Issue ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Physician Assisted Suicide ◽  
Morality Policy ◽  
Policy Issues

Interest group lobbying on morality policy issues differs from lobbying on other kinds of issues. In this paper we use insights from the literature on morality policy politics to examine the lobbying of interest groups in Michigan on the issue of physician-assisted suicide (PAS). Morality policy politics is marked by the greater involvement of citizens groups. Citizens groups advocating policies that are publicly popular engage in disproportionate outside lobbying, but their capacity in this regard may be curtailed because of limited resources. Inside lobbying on morality policy issues focuses especially on getting various kinds of help from sympathetic legislators but does not try to change their opinions.

Physician-Assisted Suicide: Where to Draw the Line?

2000 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
ERNLÉ W.D. YOUNG
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Assisted Dying ◽  
Physician Assisted Suicide ◽  
Assisted Death ◽  
Policy Issues ◽  
Moral Distinction ◽  
Physician Assisted Dying ◽  
Hippocratic Tradition

In brief compass, I will touch on three of the central ethical and public policy issues that divide those who are opposed to physician-assisted dying from those who are supportive of this practice. These are: (1) the moral distinction (if any) between actively hastening death and passively allowing to die; (2) how to interpret the Hippocratic tradition in medicine with respect to physician-assisted death; and (3) whether physician-assisted suicide can be effectively regulated. I shall summarize the arguments pro and con with respect to each issue, and also indicate my own position.

Physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in the Netherlands and Oregon

2021 ◽  
pp. 117-126
Author(s):  
Herbert Hendin ◽  
Josephine Hendin
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Interest Groups ◽  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
The United States ◽  
Physical Illness ◽  
Physician Assisted Suicide ◽  
Assisted Death ◽  
Reporting Practices

Physician-assisted suicide (PAS) was sanctioned in Oregon in 1977, before advances in palliative care made it possible to relieve the suffering associated with serious illnesses. Depression associated with physical illness was assumed to be an inevitable consequence of terminal illnesses. These provided the impetus for legalization in Oregon which became a model for laws, implementation, and reporting practices in the United States and other countries. Since 2002, the Netherlands have had experience with PAS, as well as euthanasia. Both environments have seen an increase in patients utilizing these practices. While there is advocacy from interest groups favouring these practices, questions are raised about the use, implementation, requirements, and reporting practices. This text explores the experience of assisted death in Oregon and the Netherlands, from medical/psychological perspectives.

How to measure interest group influence: Italy’s professional orders and liberalization policy

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-202
Author(s):  
Andrea Pritoni
Keyword(s):  
Interest Groups ◽  
Interest Group ◽  
Policy Process ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Group Influence ◽  
Policy Issues ◽  
Conceptual Definition ◽  
Liberalization Policy ◽  
Interest Group Influence

The question of who wins or loses in the policy process lies at the heart of recent research into both interest groups and public policy. However, one of the most difficult challenges when empirically analysing interest groups consists in knowing exactly how to measure their influence: despite the fact that this question has been addressed by political scientists for decades, significant problems remain regarding both the conceptual definition and empirical measurement of influence. In order to develop a better understanding of interest group influence, I recommend as follows: (a) that such influence be conceptualized as a degree of preference attainment; (b) that the degree of generality of the concept be downgraded, by breaking it up on the basis of two fundamental dimensions: the lobbying direction (pro-status quoor anti-status quo) and the policy-making stage (agenda setting; decision making; implementation); (c) to proceed with a manual hand-coding in order to obtain a list of the policy issues around which interest groups lobby; (d) to resort to an expert survey in order to evaluate these issues. This methodological approach is used to empirically measure the influence that Italy’s professional orders had on the liberalization process championed by the second Prodi government in 2006.

The Politics of Belonging

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 993-1018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Dale Jacobson
Keyword(s):  
Interest Groups ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Interest Group ◽  
Policy Issue ◽  
Group Behavior ◽  
Critical Component ◽  
Actor Model ◽  
Policy Positions ◽  
Rational Actor ◽  
Signaling Mechanisms

This article explores how interest groups decide policy positions through case studies of three organizations’ shifting stances on the issue of immigration. In all three cases, the AFL-CIO, the Sierra Club, and the Christian Coalition, issue positions are signaling mechanisms central to the construction of an organizational identity. Leadership considers the message the stance on a policy issue sends to potential constituents and allies. Organizational agendas are one tool used by leaders to craft new narratives about what the group stands for, who the group represents, and who belongs. Key determinants of leaderships’ calculation over redrawing the boundaries of inclusion and representation and what signal an issue stance will convey includes organizational strength and a reading of a shifting political terrain. An evolutionary metaphor, instead of a rational actor model, is better suited to understand this critical component of interest group behavior, agenda setting.

Euthanasia and Related Practices Worldwide

Crisis ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 109-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J Kelleher † ◽  
Derek Chambers ◽  
Paul Corcoran ◽  
Helen S Keeley ◽  
Eileen Williamson
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
International Association ◽  
Active Euthanasia ◽  
Physician Assisted Suicide ◽  
Passive Euthanasia ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
General Acceptance ◽  
International Importance ◽  
Controversial Area ◽  
Active And Passive Euthanasia

The present paper examines the occurrence of matters relating to the ending of life, including active euthanasia, which is, technically speaking, illegal worldwide. Interest in this most controversial area is drawn from many varied sources, from legal and medical practitioners to religious and moral ethicists. In some countries, public interest has been mobilized into organizations that attempt to influence legislation relating to euthanasia. Despite the obvious international importance of euthanasia, very little is known about the extent of its practice, whether passive or active, voluntary or involuntary. This examination is based on questionnaires completed by 49 national representatives of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), dealing with legal and religious aspects of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, as well as suicide. A dichotomy between the law and medical practices relating to the end of life was uncovered by the results of the survey. In 12 of the 49 countries active euthanasia is said to occur while a general acceptance of passive euthanasia was reported to be widespread. Clearly, definition is crucial in making the distinction between active and passive euthanasia; otherwise, the entire concept may become distorted, and legal acceptance may become more widespread with the effect of broadening the category of individuals to whom euthanasia becomes an available option. The “slippery slope” argument is briefly considered.

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