Ethics and End of Life Choices
The developement of advanced, life-prolonging technology in chronic and irreversable illnesses raises new questions. Attention is frequently directed at quality of life rather than just the duration of it. This opens the door to ethical dilemmas regarding life and death.
Advance Health Care Planning
Four steps to advance health care planning.
Introduction to Difficult Decisions
Throughout most of our lives, medical decisions are quite easy. As one gets older, however, these decisions become more difficult.
Advance Directives
Plan ahead using an Advance Directive. What is it and how can you get one?
Make a Wish...or Five
What is Five Wishes and how can it help you?
Hands Off! Do Not Resuscitate
What is a Do Not Resuscitate order and is it right for you?
What is a POLST and Do I Need One?
A POLST paradigm (sometimes referred to as a MOLST) is a Physician's Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment. Do you need one?
What Would You Do If You Had One Year to Live?
What would you do if you had a year to live? Readers share their own unique bucket lists.See submissions
Your Right to Know about Treatment Options
The right to know treatment options at the end of life and make your own decisions.
6 Questions for Your Doctor about Treatment Options
Six questions for your doctor about treatment options for your illness.
California's Terminal Patients’ Right to Know End-of-Life Options Act
California's AB 2747, the Terminal Patients' Right to Know End-of-Life Options Act
The Decision to Stop Eating at the End of Life
End of life decisions for hospice patients may include voluntary stopping of eating and drinking.
Voluntary Ceasing of Eating and Drinking
End-of-life choices for hospice patients may include the voluntary stopping of eating and drinking.
Deciding to Withhold or Withdraw Life Support
Information about making difficult decisions about life support.
Artificial Nutrition and Hydration
What is artificial nutrition and hydration and is it right for you or your loved one?
Palliative Sedation
An overview of palliative sedation to alleviate suffering.
Is Palliative Sedation a Form of Euthanasia or Physician-Assi…
Is palliative sedation a form of euthanasia? What are the differences between palliative sedation and euthanasia?
palliative sedation - Have you had to consider Palliative Sedation?
Have you ever had to consider palliative sedation for yourself or your loved one to relieve uncontrolled suffering? How did you wrestle with that choice?
Reasons for Seeking Physician Assisted Suicide
Reasons why palliative care patients may seek physician-assisted suicide.
Oppositions to Physician Assisted Suicide
Reasons for opposing physician-assisted suicide.
Compassion & Choices
Profile of the right-to-die organization Compassion and Choices.
The Final Exit Network
A profile of the right-to-die organization The Final Exit Network.
10 Travel Tips for Patients
Travel tips for palliative care and hospice patients with a serious illness, including air travel.
Traveling with Oxygen
Tips for traveling with oxygen by car, bus, airplane, or cruise line.
How Will Health Care Reform Affect End-of-Life Care?
Discussion of how health care reform in 2009 will affect end-of-life care.
How Will the Proposed Health Care Reform Affect Older Americans?
How will health care reform affect older Americans and Senior Citizens?
Death Panels Already Exist
Think death panels are a part of the future? They already happen at insurance companies.
Denied Health Insurance Claims - Share Your Story about Denied Health…
Readers share their experiences with being denied health insurance claims.
Health Care Reform - Health Care Reform and Seniors
Are you worried how health care reform will affect you? Share your reasons.
Finding Our Way
The practical advice, resources, and personal stories in Finding Our Way can teach how to approach death and dying with the same kind of planning and emotional preparedness we strive for in the rest of our lives. We are finding better ways to live with dying in America.
Economic Motives for Physician-Assisted Suicide
An interesting article by Maxwell J. Mehlman, J.D. about the possible economic motives for physician assisted suicide.
Dying Well
Dr. Ira Byock, long time palliative care physician and advocate for improved end-of-life care, and a past president of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, provides written resources and referrals to organizations, web sites and books to empower persons with life threatening illness and their families to live fully.
Karen Ann Quinlan: A Pioneer in the Right-to-Die Movement
A profile of Karen Ann Quinlan, a pioneer case in the right-to-die movement.
Go Wish Card Game
A card game from the Coda Alliance makes talking about end of life wishes easy and maybe even fun.
