An Opportunity Lost: The Failure of the Michigan Commission on Death and Dying

Authors

Joseph Ellin, Western Michigan University

Abstract

The Michigan Commission on Death and Dying was created to advise the state legislature on the politically volatile question of assisted suicide. Proposals were considered to allow assisted suicide with safeguards, and to continue the state's temporary absolute ban. Because of the political composition of the Commission, however, no consensus was reached, and the opportunity to enact humane but careful legislation seems to have passed. This paper examines the proposals the Commission considered, the alliances reflected in the voting, and some problems the Commission failed to address.

Recommended Citation

Ellin, Joseph (1995) "An Opportunity Lost: The Failure of the Michigan Commission on Death and Dying," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 22: Iss. 3, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.2260
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol22/iss3/2