Death's Dominion : Ethics at the End of Life

by Woods, Simon

• ISBN13: 9780335211616
• ISBN10: 0335211615
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-01-01
• Publisher: Open University Press

Summary

What constitutes a good death? Is it possible to arrange a good death? Is killing compatible with caring? This book looks at death and the issues and ethical dilemmas faced at the end of life. It addresses the central issues in the field such as: Withholding and withdrawing treatment Euthanasia and assisted suicide Terminal sedation The role of autonomy Palliative care Drawing on a philosophical framework, the author explores end-of-life issues in order to reflect on the nature of the good death and how this may be achieved. The book considers whether it is permissible or desirable to influence the quality of dying: offering palliative sedation as a possible alternative to terminal sedation, the argument is extended to examine why some forms of assisted dying can be shown to be compatible with the ideas of palliative care.Consideration is also given to future developments such as life extension techniques and the ethical questions that that these techniques might raise. As such, the book follows in the ongoing philosophical tradition to critique and analyse current thought on the topic of death, encouraging self-reflection in the reader and offering suggestions for practice in end-of-life care. Death's Dominion is key reading for students and professionals involved in care of the dying, as well as those with an interest in the philosophical issues surrounding end-of-life care.

Author Biography

Simon Woods is Senior Lecturer and Director of Learning in the Policy Ethics and Life Sciences Research Institute (PEALS) at the University of Newcastle.

Table of Contents

Ethics	p. 1
Good life, good death	p. 27
Palliative care : history and values	p. 49
Ethics in palliative care : autonomy and respect for persons	p. 75
Respect for persons : a framework for palliative care	p. 99
Terminal sedation	p. 115
Assisted dying	p. 137
Concluding thoughts	p. 161
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