@article {McCormick:2011:0037-8046:119,
	author = "McCormick, Andrew J.",
	title = "Self-Determination, the Right to Die, and Culture: A Literature Review",
	journal = "Social Work",
	volume = "56",
	number = "2",
	year = "2011",
	abstract = "Self-determination is a primary ethical principle underlying social work practice in health care settings. Since the 1970s, a right-to-die movement that shares the social work commitment to self-determination has grown and influences end-of-life care decisions. However, the role of culture is notably absent in discussions of the right to die. A literature review was conducted to explore self-determination and the role of culture in the context of the history of the right-to-die movement. A total of 54 articles met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Of the total, 21 related to self-determination, and 12 related to ethnicity and culture at the end of life. A history based on the review of the right-to-die movement is presented. The review found that social workers support passively hastening death and that views of self-determination are affected by both law and culture. In response, social workers will face three tasks: (1) becoming more public in their support for client self-determination as an important standard in end-of-life care, (2) being more explicit in support of diverse cultural traditions in end-of-life decision making, and (3) expanding their traditional educational and bridging roles between families and medical personnel.",
	pages = "119-128",
	url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/oup/sw/2011/00000056/00000002/art00003",
	keyword = "CULTURAL COMPETENCE, END-OF-LIFE CARE, RIGHT TO DIE, SELF-DETERMINATION"
}