Full Description
It often seems that medical technology is a never-ending string of miracles. But it is also a double-edged sword. More often than not, death today happens because of a decision to stop doing something, or to not do it at all. As the tragic life and death of Terri Schiavo so poignantly illustrated, universal definitions of life, death, nature, and many other concepts are elusive at best. Unplugged addresses the fundamental questions of the right-to-die debate, and discusses how the medical advances that bring so much hope and healing have also helped to create today's dilemma.Now in paperback, this compelling book illuminates the complex legal, ethical, medical, and deeply personal issues of a debate that ultimately affects us all. Compassionate and beautifully written, the book helps readers understand the implications of current laws and proposed legislation, various medical options (including hospice), and the typical end-of-life decisions we all must face in order to make informed decisions for ourselves and our loved ones. The hardcover edition was chosen by "The Library Journal" as one of the Best Consumer Health Books of 2006.
Contents
CONTENTS FOREWORD vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix INTRODUCTION xi PART ONE 1 Terri Schiavo's Private Years 3 2 Terri Schiavo's Public Years 21 3 The Autopsy of Terri Schiavo 47 PART TWO 4 The Ascent of Medical Technology 57 5 The Law and the Right to Die 73 6 The Case of Nancy Cruzan 87 7 How We Die in America Today 95 8 Dying on the "Institutional Glide Path" 109 9 In Terri Schiavo's Shoes 125 10 My "Living Will" 141 11 Feeding Tubes-The Hardest Question 149 12 But I Believe in the Right to Life! 165 13 Special Concerns of the Disabled Community 175 14 Oregon v. Ashcroft/Gonzales and Physician-Assisted Suicide 185 15 Hospice: The Hidden Jewel 201 16 Where Do We Go from Here? 217 APPENDIX 221 NOTES 227 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND ADDITIONAL READING 249 RESOURCES 253 INDEX 259
