Last rights : rescuing the end of life from the medical system
"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."--Source other than the Library of Congress
xviii, 301 pages ; 25 cm
9780312342241, 0312342241
70063095
pt. 1. The imprint a body makes
1. Last hours
2. This is the news
3. A baby and a basketball game
4. A dog is better than a pill
5. So much potential
pt. 2. Not an emergency
6. What is a crisis?
7. Possible paths
8. Still alive
9. Mysteries of life
10. Two visions
pt. 3. Heal thyself
11. Doctors' beginnings
12. "Take five years"
13. A piece of cake
14. "This was medicine"
15. "Maybe I can make you laugh"
16. Barriers to change
pt. 4. Medicine and love are not the same thing
17. One experience
18. Families as "problems"
19. No one in charge
20. The economics of dying
21. The most important time
pt. 5. Smelling the roses
22. "Her wishes were totally ignored"
23. The desire for control
24. Dreams coming true
25. The final caress
26. "We can celebrate"
pt. 6. A gift of silver
27. Lobster Newburg
28. A bowl of applesauce
29. Illness as opportunity
pt. 7. The lesson of the leaves
30. The endless cycle
31. An agenda for improvement
32. Four final lessons