Document Type
Book
Publication Date
1997
Department
Political Science
Abstract
Many Americans, before they die, will go through a stage where they are unable to make competent decisions about their own life-sustaining medical treatment. More and more, family members and care givers are facing these difficult decisions in their stead, becoming engulfed in questions about personal wishes, medical ethics, state and federal law, and quality of life.
Drawing on provocative case studies, personal interviews, and detailed research, James Hoefler examines the medical, legal, ethical, and clinical aspects of such right-to-die issues. Beginning with the legal struggle of a woman whose son existed in a persistent vegetative states (PVS) for seventeen years, the author moves into a broader look at consensus among professional organizations, from the AMA to the President's Commission to the National Center for State Courts; beliefs of mainstream religious groups; public opinion; issues surrounding end-stage Alzheimer's and other organic brain disorders that can slowly lead to PVS; and the role of artificial nutrition and hydration in these cases.
Hoefler concludes with recommendations on how to improve the quality of right-to-die decisionmaking. An absorbing read with a minimum of technical jargon, this book is a valuable guide to care givers, public policy students, medical ethicists, family members, and anyone facing questions about an individual's right to die.
Recommended Citation
Hoefler, James M. Managing Death: The First Guide for Patients, Family Members, and Care Providers on Forgoing Treatment at the End of Life. Boulder: Westview, 1997.
Cover
Hoefler_Gift-Note.pdf (588 kB)
Gift Note
Hoefler_TitlePage.pdf (477 kB)
Title Page
Hoefler_Copyright.pdf (606 kB)
Copyright
Hoefler_Dedication.pdf (455 kB)
Dedication
Hoefler_Contents.pdf (1290 kB)
Contents
Hoefler_Tabes,Figures,Boxes.pdf (1176 kB)
Tables, Figures, and Boxes
Hoefler_Preface.pdf (1453 kB)
Preface
Hoefler_Acknowledgments.pdf (805 kB)
Acknowledgments
Hoefler_Introduction.pdf (3924 kB)
Introduction
Hoefler_Ch1.pdf (21719 kB)
1. The Case of Joey Fiori
Hoefler_Ch2.pdf (25760 kB)
2. The Emergence of Consensus
Hoefler_Ch3.pdf (21770 kB)
3. A Broader Consensus
Hoefler_Ch4.pdf (19285 kB)
4. Beyond the PVS: Severe Dementia
Hoefler_Ch5.pdf (19290 kB)
5. Artificial Nutrition and Hydration
Hoefler_Ch6.pdf (22858 kB)
6. Conclusion and Recommendations
Hoefler_Notes.pdf (14479 kB)
Notes
Hoefler_References.pdf (12443 kB)
References
Hoefler_About-Book-and-Author.pdf (638 kB)
About the Book and Author
Hoefler_Index.pdf (4052 kB)
Index
Included in
Bioethics and Medical Ethics Commons, Health Law and Policy Commons, Health Policy Commons