Write to Death: News Framing of the Right to Die Conflict, from Quinlan's Coma to Kevorkian's Conviction

Has The Mainstream Media Been Careless In Reporting On The Issue Of Euthanasia? As The Right To Die And Physician Assisted Suicide Movements Gather Steam, The National Media Have Been Too Quick To Perpetuate And Focus On The Medical And Legal Overtones Of Death. The Ethical, Religious, And Philosophical Dimensions Of Our Increased Acceptance Of Euthanizing The Aged, Infirm, And Disabled Are Often Neglected. Gaily Argues That The Press's Failure To Enrich Public Discourse May Well Erode Its Trustworthiness In The Public's Eye. Using Examples From Analysis Of Elite, Mainstream News Publications, Gailey Details How The National Press Systematically Advanced Pro-euthanasia Views And Interpretations While Marginalizing Or Omitting Pro-life Perspectives And Frames. The Battle Over Legalizing Passive And Active Euthanasia Has Enormous Social, Economic, And Ethical Implications. An Understanding Of How The News Media Frame Or, Package Such Issues For Public Consumption Is Critical. Gailey's Integrative Approach Combines An Exploration Of The Major Historical, Ideational, And Economic Factors, Leading To The Rise Of The Right To Die Movement, And Includes In Depth Analysis Of The Media's Framing Of The Controversy In The Two Decades Between Quinlan's Coma To Kevorkian's Conviction.--jacket. Part I: The Quest For A Good Death. A Bomb In The Sickroom: The News Media And The Fight For Death With Dignity -- Deified, Condoned, Vilified, And Criminalized: A Brief History Of Euthanasia In Western Societies -- Crisis Of Authority And The Seeds Of Change -- Part Ii: The Shaping Power Of News: Framing Of The Euthanasia Debate. News Frames And Framing Stages In Euthanasia Coverage -- The Bad Doctor And The Good Death: News Framing Of Kevorkian -- Results On The Ideology Of Euthanasia News Frames -- The Right To Die As Good Death: Implications And Conclusions -- Appendix A. What's In A Name? Definitions And Terms Used In The Debate Over Euthanasia -- Appendix B. Research Methods -- Appendix C. Euthanasia Timeline. Elizabeth Atwood Gailey. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [153]-174) And Index.