End-of-life Issues (IN: Macmillan Encyclopedia of Death and Dying, vol.1: A-K, ed. by R Kastenbaum)

This encyclopedia entry explores the issues that have come to surround death & dying over the last century as a result of medical technologies that can prolong life. The difficulties of defining “death”, the assessment of life quality, the weight of patients’ interests, & the practicing of assisted suicide & euthanasia are all considered. (19 refs)