Decision Making Near The End Of Life

Decision Making near the End of Life provides a comprehensive overview of the recent developments that have impacted decision-making processes within the field of end-of-life care. The most current developments in all aspects of major underlying issues such as public attitudes, the impact of media, bioethics, and legal precedent provide the background information for the text. The authors examine various aspects of end-of-life choices and decision-making, including communication (between and among family, medical personnel, the dying person), advance directives, and the emergence of hospice and palliative care institutions. The book also explores a variety of psychosocial considerations that arise in decision-making, including religion/spirituality, family caregiving, disenfranchised and diverse groups, and the psychological and psychiatric problems that can impact both the dying person and loved ones. Case studies and first-person stories about decision-making, written by professionals in the field, bring a uniquely personal touch to this valuable text. Review: In the 40 plus years that I have been in the field, there has been an explosion of books and articles. Few have been as academically sound as this one. It is truly an excellent effort...an excellent text. It is an important contribution to the field. While it is decidedly academic and would greatly serve those in academia, it has many gems for those who are not academic. It is a must for professionals in the field, as well as academics. I highly recommend this book. - Gerry Cox, Ph.D., Illness, Crisis Loss I truly enjoyed this book. The authors' language and organization exhibit clarity and made for an easy read. It was very informative and would be a perfect textbook for a gerontology course or a bioethics course. This book will greatly benefit health professionals, educators, students, and people dealing with end-of-life decisions about themselves or loved ones. - Shilpa Shashidhara, PhD., MABMH, University of North Texas, in Activities, Adaptation and Aging