Final choices: to live or to die in an age of medical technology
Author:
Publisher:
Insight Books
Pub. Date:
[1993]
Language:
English
Lexile measure:
1310L
Description
The staggering advances in medical technology over the past few decades have enormously increased the number of treatment techniques available at the concluding stages of life. For countless patients and families, this situation is challenging and confusing, especially if an unexpected crisis occurs in a hospital or hospice, or at home. Final Choices is an extraordinary presentation of the issues, options, and obstacles concerning the right and ability of a dying person to control his or her future. George M. Burnell, M.D., a psychiatrist with direct experience in grief and bereavement counseling, emphasizes the development of open communication within the family and with members of the treatment staff. He sensitively discusses many important concerns so as to facilitate such dialogue, for example: the questions to ask a doctor at the onset of illness; the fear of pain or physical deterioration (e.g., from AIDS or chemotherapy); the spiritual, legal, and financial counsel available to patient and family; the medical "choices" a patient may have in pursuit of a dignified death; the official documents to prepare (e.g., a living will, a power of attorney, a healthcare proxy) for the patient's last wishes; the possible merits of hospice care for the medical and spiritual benefits of patient and family. Featuring poignant case histories, Dr. Burnell describes in clear, nontechnical language the painful ethical and legal complications that surface when patients and families do not pursue the possibility of "do not resuscitate" (DNR) orders in lieu of life-prolonging measures. Unlike other books in the field, Final Choices does not underplay the dilemmas posed by modern medical technology. Featuring a fascinating breakdown of landmark cases, the author weighs the opinions posed by the medical and legal communities, and the increasingly important role of a bioethics committee in its capacity as a family-hospital mediator. An extensive list of sample forms, charts, a helpful glossary of medical terms, and a diagram of states' policies on "right-to-die" issues make this inspirational book invaluable to the terminally ill and their families, experts in traditional and alternative medical treatment, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, members of the legal profession and the clergy, healthcare legislators, hospital administrators, and social workers.
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ISBN:
9780306444623
Lexile measure:
1310L
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Grouping Information
Grouped Work ID | 0e3275da-2aa9-2e1b-ca8d-1fda58b48b11 |
---|---|
Grouping Title | final choices to live or to die in an age of medical technology |
Grouping Author | george m burnell |
Grouping Category | book |
Grouping Language | English (eng) |
Last Grouping Update | 2024-04-27 06:54:27AM |
Last Indexed | 2024-04-28 23:16:35PM |
Solr Fields
accelerated_reader_point_value
0
accelerated_reader_reading_level
0
author
Burnell, George M.
author_display
Burnell, George M.
available_at_bemis
Bemis Public Library
detailed_location_bemis
Bemis Lower Level
display_description
The staggering advances in medical technology over the past few decades have enormously increased the number of treatment techniques available at the concluding stages of life. For countless patients and families, this situation is challenging and confusing, especially if an unexpected crisis occurs in a hospital or hospice, or at home. Final Choices is an extraordinary presentation of the issues, options, and obstacles concerning the right and ability of a dying person to control his or her future. George M. Burnell, M.D., a psychiatrist with direct experience in grief and bereavement counseling, emphasizes the development of open communication within the family and with members of the treatment staff. He sensitively discusses many important concerns so as to facilitate such dialogue, for example: the questions to ask a doctor at the onset of illness; the fear of pain or physical deterioration (e.g., from AIDS or chemotherapy); the spiritual, legal, and financial counsel available to patient and family; the medical "choices" a patient may have in pursuit of a dignified death; the official documents to prepare (e.g., a living will, a power of attorney, a healthcare proxy) for the patient's last wishes; the possible merits of hospice care for the medical and spiritual benefits of patient and family. Featuring poignant case histories, Dr. Burnell describes in clear, nontechnical language the painful ethical and legal complications that surface when patients and families do not pursue the possibility of "do not resuscitate" (DNR) orders in lieu of life-prolonging measures. Unlike other books in the field, Final Choices does not underplay the dilemmas posed by modern medical technology. Featuring a fascinating breakdown of landmark cases, the author weighs the opinions posed by the medical and legal communities, and the increasingly important role of a bioethics committee in its capacity as a family-hospital mediator. An extensive list of sample forms, charts, a helpful glossary of medical terms, and a diagram of states' policies on "right-to-die" issues make this inspirational book invaluable to the terminally ill and their families, experts in traditional and alternative medical treatment, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, members of the legal profession and the clergy, healthcare legislators, hospital administrators, and social workers.
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Book
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Books
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0e3275da-2aa9-2e1b-ca8d-1fda58b48b11
isbn
9780306444623
itype_bemis
Juvenile Biography
last_indexed
2024-04-29T05:16:35.978Z
lexile_score
1310
literary_form
Non Fiction
literary_form_full
Non Fiction
local_callnumber_bemis
179.7 BURNELL
owning_library_bemis
Bemis Public Library
owning_location_bemis
Bemis Public Library
primary_isbn
9780306444623
publishDate
1993
publisher
Insight Books
recordtype
grouped_work
subject_facet
Biomedical Technology
Cuidados a doentes terminais
Death
Do-not-resuscitate orders
Ethics, Medical
Eutanásia
Euthanasia
Euthanasie
Hospice care
Living Wills
Living wills
Medizinische Ethik
Right to Die
Right to die
Terminal care
Tod
Ética médica
Cuidados a doentes terminais
Death
Do-not-resuscitate orders
Ethics, Medical
Eutanásia
Euthanasia
Euthanasie
Hospice care
Living Wills
Living wills
Medizinische Ethik
Right to Die
Right to die
Terminal care
Tod
Ética médica
title_display
Final choices : to live or to die in an age of medical technology
title_full
Final choices : to live or to die in an age of medical technology / George M. Burnell
title_short
Final choices
title_sub
to live or to die in an age of medical technology
topic_facet
Biomedical Technology
Cuidados a doentes terminais
Death
Do-not-resuscitate orders
Ethics, Medical
Eutanásia
Euthanasia
Euthanasie
Hospice care
Living Wills
Living wills
Medizinische Ethik
Right to Die
Right to die
Terminal care
Tod
Ética médica
Cuidados a doentes terminais
Death
Do-not-resuscitate orders
Ethics, Medical
Eutanásia
Euthanasia
Euthanasie
Hospice care
Living Wills
Living wills
Medizinische Ethik
Right to Die
Right to die
Terminal care
Tod
Ética médica
Solr Details Tables
item_details
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ils:.b30651517 | .i12361482x | Bemis Lower Level | 179.7 BURNELL | 1 | false | false | On Shelf | Nov 25, 2009 | below |
record_details
Bib Id | Format | Format Category | Edition | Language | Publisher | Publication Date | Physical Description | Abridged |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ils:.b30651517 | Book | Books | English | Insight Books | [1993] | xxii, 374 pages : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm |
scoping_details_bemis
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ils:.b30651517 | .i12361482x | On Shelf | On Shelf | false | true | true | false | false | true | 195, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 170, 11, 171, 12, 13, 14, 15 |