Ethics at the End of Life

This 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.