Death With Dignity The Case for Legalizing Physician Assisted Dying and Euthanasia is a work
written by Robert Orfali as the result of his helping his wife during the last days of her life as
she was dying with cancer.
This is a work of some 229 pages, including Introduction, Table of Contents, Find Out More
and Acknowledgements.
Author Orfali begins with the sobering note that as Dr Ira Byock eloquently reminds us “We
are all and at every moment a heartbeat away from death.”
Orfali also notes that most of us die in small, often facing life confusing choices, needlessly
facing horrible pain, while technology for ending the suffering is available.
Orfali asks the question, “Why is euthanasia not legal?” And, he points out this book is for
everyone; We will all die.
Chapter 1 sets the tone for the work as it presents the emotional, and other chaos often felt
and seen at death. Chapter 2 helps to explain euthanasia. Chapter 3 reveals how many folk
die today including death in ICU, hospital and hospice. Chapter 4 notes that physician
assisted death is legal in a number of advanced countries, and in Montana, Oregon and
Washington states here in the US. Chapter 5 discusses euthanasia itself including some of
the lessons learned during the 30 years it has been used in the Netherlands. Chapters 6 and
& 7 discuss the arguments against euthanasia. Chapter 8 indicates that in time with
medications available on line euthanasia will likely become more commonplace.
I found Chapter 5 'Euthanasia in the Real World' to be especially interesting as Author Orfali
explores the question How Do I Die? The Oregon Conversation. And details facts and
information regarding Oregon's Death with Dignity and their workable system for caring for
the terminally ill. Also discussed in this chapter is the methodology used in Washington state
and in the Netherlands.
I found Writer Orfali's writing to be readable, well presented and informative. When I agreed
to review this particular work I had little inkling that I would soon be visiting my younger
sister repeatedly in a Tulsa, Oklahoma ICU, and while my sibling is not terminal, much of the
information I have gleaned from this particular work certainly is apropos for the moment.
I found very informative Writer Orfali's explanations of Hospice care, Palliative Sedation as
opposed to use of Nembutal or similar drugs as well as the debate raging regarding murder
or suicide, who is really against Physician assisted suicide and what it all means to all of us in
general.
Writer Orfali is a skilled writer, presents much information in readable method, whether the
reader is for or against legalizing Physician Assisted dying and or euthanasia per se the book
has much to offer from a purely informational standpoint, and may prove very helpful for
those who may be facing the need for actually thinking about the topic now or in the weeks
and years to come.
I do not keep all books I receive for review, I plan to keep this one, and especially so after
watching a sibling who is close to my age, and as I has had little to no medical issue during
the length of our lives as she is suddenly very close to death and is receiving intensive care,
but seems to be well on the way to recovery. I'm sorry Writer Orfali's wife Jeri was no quite
so lucky in that regard; her own illness was terminal.
Please to recommend this well written, informative work especially for counselors, hospital
Chaplin corps, and for families as well as for library shelves.
5 stars Death With Dignity The Case for Legalizing Physician Assisted Dying and Euthanasia
is a work written by Robert Orfali.
===========================
Reviewed by Molly’s Reviews
molly martin
===========================
Product Details and Shipping Information from Amazon
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
TITLE Death With Dignity The Case for Legalizing Physician Assisted Dying and Euthanasia
AUTHOR Robert Orfali
GENRE Education
PAGES 229
PUBLISHER Mill City Press, Inc Minneapolis MN 55401
ISBN 978 1 936780 18 1