Over the past thirty years, the way Americans experience death has been dramatically altered. The advent of medical technology capable of sustainin...
read full description
reviews
Apr 08, 2011
Ashley
rated it: 
This was a good, if dense, read that opened my eyes to end of life issues, specifically how death and dying occurs in hospitals. We've all heard about "life support" and "DNR (do not resucitate) orders", quality of life issues, suffering, and the like.
Like most people, before reading this book I had no idea that "life support" or "heroic measures" aren't one specific thing. They are more concepts, and as such, are open to interpretation. Kaufm More...
Like most people, before reading this book I had no idea that "life support" or "heroic measures" aren't one specific thing. They are more concepts, and as such, are open to interpretation. Kaufm More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 20, 2009
Leslie
rated it:
This is a thoughtful ethnographic study of the dying process of the hospital, more specifically of critical illness (both acute and chronic). Although as a medical provider I chaffed at some of the interpretations, I did not wholly disagree with any of them. She formulates modern death in terms of technological cultural imperatives as well as bureaucratic time pressures. She postulates that Nature has lost its grounding function in shaping our sense of the morality of dying because technology
More...
Mar 15, 2010
This book validates my reaction to the experience I've been having over the past two weeks while my husband's father was in the hospital. A good study, well written. And a very odd mostly American phenomenon.
Sep 29, 2008
K
rated it: 
Reading this definitely changed my opinions about what I would like happen if I were to need life-preserving technology - but in many places, the book is redundant.
Aug 11, 2007
Margaret
rated it: 
There were parts that were interesting but it was very dry. I did not finish it.
Jan 14, 2012
Jan 10, 2012
Jan 06, 2012
Nov 22, 2011
Feb 01, 2012
Oct 10, 2011
Jul 23, 2011
Jul 09, 2011
Jul 07, 2011
Jun 17, 2011
May 28, 2011
Jan 01, 2011
Feb 05, 2011
Nov 28, 2010
Nov 16, 2010
Nov 13, 2010
Nov 06, 2010
Sep 24, 2010
