An in-depth exploration of the shortcomings of our end-of-life system. The reader will learn about terminal torture in hospital ICUs and about the alternatives: hospice and palliative care. With laser-sharp focus, Orfali scrutinizes the good, the bad, and the ugly. He provides an insightful critique of the practice of palliative sedation. The book makes a strong case that assisted dying complements hospice. Oregon, by providing both, now has the best palliative-care system in America. This book can serve as a gentle and informed guide to “a good death” in the age of hospice and high-tech medical intervention. Orfali makes a compelling case for legalized physician-assisted dying. Using the latest data from Oregon and the Netherlands, he puts a fresh new slant on perennial debate topics such as “slippery slopes,” “the integrity of medicine,” and “sanctity of life.” His engaging writing style brings clarity to these issues. The content is thought-provoking; the arguments are well-researched, air-tight, and original.

 Death With Dignity:  The Case for Legalizing Physician-Assisted Dying and Euthanasia, by Robert Orfali is dedicated to the loving memory of his wife, Jeri Edwards Orfali.  Robert Orfali clearly states his book is not about Jeri, but rather he uses her life and what she went through as an example to interpret the matrix of laws, cultural taboos and religious concerns people currently confront when faced with a terminal illness.  Like a 58 faceted diamond, Robert Orfali shines the light of understanding, logic and honesty through each of the prismatic cuts on the issue of terminal illness; revealing a spectrum of colors of clarity of thought, determinations  and options. He has an uncanny ability to “peel the onion” of such a complex situation, layer-by- layer, into meaningful and easily understandable deductions of reason.   What one gets from reading this book is a sober reality-check on how to deal with the end of life decisions, events and protocols of caring for the critically terminally ill, or yourself.

This book is for everyone, not just those currently fighting a disease, as “we all are only one heartbeat away from death.”  Mortality is the common dominator of all life.  If we have self-control granted to us for how we live, why are we faced with no decision when it comes to how to die?  The concepts of euthanasia, both self-administered and physician-administered are key discussion points throughout Death With Dignity. The States of Oregon and Washington, and the Netherlands prove most pro-active in their humane approach to administer the drug Nembutal; a 100% effective and painless drug used to cease life.  The legal pre-requisites and procedures necessary along with the patients’ decisions are clearly identified to result in a lawful self-administered death.   This may be viewed as suicide to some, or if assisted brought under the umbrella of murder, however Robert Orfali removes all of the religious and sociological “spin” on the topic.