Review by Choice Review
An excellent presentation of perspectives of US case and statutory law on dying and death that examines how law, medicine, and thanatology intersect around questions created by medical technology. Berger, a lawyer and thanatologist, has organized complex legal, medical, and ethical information that clearly illustrates the principles basic to decisions about dying and death. Seven chapters include salient discussions on legal issues, the dying patient, the right to die, advance directives, determination of death, anatomical gifts, and the forms and sources of law. Two informative appendixes provide information on death-related statutes, common law doctrines, and a guide to the law library. Numerous relevant examples from historical landmark cases as well as clinical examples are used very effectively to illustrate complex legal-ethical issues. Technical legal concepts are made understandable. This book should be read by all health professionals, pastoral counselors and hospice professionals, attorneys offering services to individuals facing the end of life, and families of such individuals as well. General; advanced undergraduate through professional. M. A. Bright; University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
