Ethics at the End of LifeThis anthology deftly introduces students to the massive medical ethics literature on end-of-life issues, such as refusal of treatment, surrogate decision making, resuscitation policies, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. Although end-of-life issues are central, this text could be easily used as the basis for a much broader course in medical ethics. Each section's topic is introduced in an introductory essay that presents the central concepts, concerns, arguments, and positions. The selections that follow include the most influential work in each area, as well as ground-breaking newer essays. Essays have all been chosen for their accessibility to students and are augmented by the inclusion of a glossary of philosophical and medical terms. The discussions in each section are sensitive both to the clinical realities and the philosophical subtleties of each issue. |
Contents
Ethics at the End of Life | 1 |
Refusing LifeSustaining Treatment | 25 |
Surrogate Decision Making | 59 |
Copyright | |
8 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
abuse action active euthanasia advance directives American Medical Association argued argument artificial nutrition assisted suicide autonomy baby benefit Callahan cancer cardiac cardiopulmonary resuscitation child claim clinical competent conflict consider considerations cost court death deci decide depression discussion disease DNR order doctor dying effects end-of-life Engl eutha family members forgo futile treatments goals guidelines harm Hastings Center hospital ill patients incompetent patients infants informed consent interests interventions involved issues JAMA Jecker judgment killing life-sustaining treatment lives managed managed care means medical ethics medical futility medical treatment ment moral objectivism moral principles moral rights nasia newborn nursing nutrition and hydration obligation one's outcome pain permissible persistent vegetative person physician-assisted suicide physicians practice problem procedure professionals proxy decisions question reason refuse relationship right to die risk role sion social society standard suffering terminally ill theories tients tion treat treatment decisions treatment refusal values withholding Youngner