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Ian Robert Dowbiggin, born 1952 (age 72–73), is an academic historian, an author and an opponent of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. He is a professor in the History department at the University of Prince Edward Island.

Euthanasia

I am opposed to legalizing PAS because I believe that the harm outweighs the benefits of doing so from a clinical, ethical, social, and economic perspective.

Dowbiggin has written extensively on the history of the euthanasia movement, including A Merciful End: The Euthanasia Movement in Modern America (2003) and A Concise History of Euthanasia: Life, Death, God, and Medicine (2005). His works link Darwinism to the euthanasia movement, and he has argued that "the ideological justification for euthanasia lies not in the advanced medical technologies of the late 20th century, but in the social Darwinism, eugenics, and utilitarianism of the late 19th century", presenting the movement as utilitarian and anticlerical. This focus has been criticised, with Dowbiggin having been accused of overemphasising the relationship between eugenics and euthanasia, and of muddying "important conceptual and practical distinctions" of the different aspects of euthanasia.

He has spoken against both euthanasia and Darwinism, and has argued that the Netherlands shows how a slippery slope can form, where a "permissive attitude to assisted suicide" can lead to other changes. Thus he is opposed to the legalisation euthanasia. On Darwinism, Dowbiggin has argued that with the overthrow of the theories of Marx and Freud, Darwinism may be next, and he has asked if Darwinism needs to be replaced with something else.

Dowbiggin has given speeches at a Canadian pro-life movement conference and the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition symposium.

Politics

A well known political commentator in the Canadian press, Dowbiggin is seen as a "conservative scholar" and potential future conservative leader.

Books

He is the author of Inheriting Madness: Professionalization and Psychiatric Knowledge in 19th C. France (1991), Keeping America Sane: Psychiatry and Eugenics in the United States and Canada, 1880-1940 (1997), Suspicious Minds: The Triumph of Paranoia in Everyday Life (1999) and most recently, A Merciful End: The Euthanasia Movement in Modern America, (2003).

References

1. "Ian Dowbiggin, PhD - Euthanasia - ProCon.org". euthanasia.procon.org. 2011 . Retrieved 23 July 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
2. Weikart, Richard (2004). "Killing Them Kindly: Lessons from the euthanasia movement". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |access date= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
3. ^ Larson, Edward (2004). "Review: Euthanasia in America: Past, Present, and Future: A Review of a "Merciful End" and "Forced Exit"". Michigan Law Review. 102 (6): 1245–1262. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
4. "Oxford University Press: A Merciful End: Ian Dowbiggin". www.oup.com. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
5. Woien, Sandra (2007). "Review of Ian Dowbiggin, A Concise History of Euthanasia: Life, Death, God, and Medicine and Neal Nicol and Harry Wylie, Between the Dying and the Dead: Dr. Jack Kevorkian's Life and the Battle to Legalize Euthanasia". The American Journal of Bioethics. 7 (11): 50–52.
6. Casey, Donna. "Debating euthanasia". CNews. Sun Media. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
7. Yuill, Kevin (October 26, 2007). "spiked review of books". The Spiked Review of Books. {{cite web}}: Text "Killer arguments against euthanasia" ignored (help); Unknown parameter |access date= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
8. Dowbiggin, Ian (June 5, 1993). "After Marx and Freud, is Darwin next to tumble?". The Star. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
9. Gosgnach, Tony (November 22, 2005). "National Pro-Life Conference in Montreal A Rousing Success Despite Setbacks". LifeSiteNews.com. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
10. "Prof Links Euthanasia, Eugenics, Sex Education, Population Control, Gay Rights and Abortion Movements". LifeSiteNews.com. November 17, 2003. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
11. "ESR". www.enterstageright.com. Retrieved 2009-10-20. {{cite web}}: Text "July 14, 2003" ignored (help); Text "Preparing tomorrow's conservative leaders" ignored (help)

External links

• Dowbiggin's page at UPEI

• 1952 births
• Living people
• Canadian academics