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A Midwife through the Dying Process: Stories of Healing and Hard Choices at the End of Life

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An outstanding collection of vignettes that can be read not only by those in the health care professions, but also by those who just have questions about how physicians and clients can communicate around sensitive issues. I have used it as a text for nursing students with great success and shared it with friends diagnosed with a serious illness. I strongly recommend it for anyone who is concerned about quality of life at the end of life

Dr. Quill is best known for his infamous "Diane" who chose to end her life in a unorthodox way. Dr. Quill does not agree with physician assisted suicide, however, he does believe that compassion in dying and allowing one to make their own destiny in the face of uncontrollable pain will alleviate much suffering. The most common reason for suicide in those with medical conditions that are incurable are is they want to die in control and without pain. It is possible with the right medical care and if it results in hastening ones death...so be it. Dr. Kevorkian uses an unorthodox procedure that at times is barbaric. Dr. Quill is one who will help you and make you comfortable. He shares his experiences with several of his patients in a way that is humane and loving.

Timothy E. Quill, MD
Midwife Through the Dying Process:
Stories of Healing and Hard Choices at the End of Life

(Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996) 239 pages

Dr. Timothy Quill became famous for disclosing
that he helped one of his patients to die by providing the necessary drugs.
This happens in only one of the nine deaths discussed in this book.
Midwife Through the Dying Process
traces the diseases and terminal illnesses of nine people
personally known by Dr. Quill in Rochester, New York.
The patients' families were almost always involved in the dying process.
Terminal sedation is the closest Dr. Quill is now willing to go
toward helping patients to die.
But the book contains many useful insights into the dying process
as seen thru the eyes of the doctor.

If you would like to read other books about dying,
search the Internet for these precise words:
"Books on Helping People to Die".

James Leonard Park, advocate of the right-to-die with careful safeguards.