Last rights
Subtitle: rescuing the end of life from the medical system
By: Stephen P. Kiernan
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2006
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 301
ISBN-13: 9780312342241
Subjects: Death; Terminal care; Attitude to Death; Terminal Care
Description: "Up to the 1970s, most Americans died swiftly: of heart attacks, strokes, cancer, or in accidents. But in the past three decades, medical advances have extended our lives and changed the way we die. Journalist Kiernan reveals the disconnect between how patients want to live the end of life--pain-free, functioning mentally and physically, surrounded by family and friends--and how the medical system continues to treat the dying--with extreme interventions, at immense cost, and with little regard to pain, human comforts, or even the stated wishes of patients and families.--From publisher description."--From source other than the Library of Congress
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [277]-288) and index.
Table of contents: title: pt.  1. The imprint a body makes; title: 1. Last hours; title: 2. This is the news; title: 3. A baby and a basketball game; title: 4. A dog is better than a pill; title: 5. So much potential; title: pt. 2. Not an emergency; title: 6. What is a crisis?; title: 7. Possible paths; title: 8. Still alive; title: 9. Mysteries of life; title: 10. Two visions; title: pt. 3. Heal thyself; title: 11. Doctors' beginnings; title: 12. "Take five years"; title: 13. A piece of cake; title: 14. "This was medicine"; title: 15. "Maybe I can make you laugh"; title: 16. Barriers to change; title: pt. 4. Medicine and love are not the same thing; title: 17. One experience; title: 18. Families as "problems"; title: 19. No one in charge; title: 20. The economics of dying; title: 21. The most important time; title: pt. 5. Smelling the roses; title: 22. "Her wishes were totally ignored"; title: 23. The desire for control; title: 24. Dreams coming true; title: 25. The final caress; title: 26. "We can celebrate"; title: pt. 6. A gift of silver; title: 27. Lobster Newburg; title: 28. A bowl of applesauce; title: 29. Illness as opportunity; title: pt. 7. The lesson of the leaves; title: 30. The endless cycle; title: 31. An agenda for improvement; title: 32. Four final lessons.