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(More customer reviews)Shepherd's book is a readable, thoughtful, balanced look at the strange, sad case of Terri Schiavo, peeling back the media attention and hysteria to look at the fundamental aspects of how should we treat such cases from the viewpoint of patients, loved ones and society as a whole. The author strikes the right balance of legal and bio-ethical expertise and just plain common sense, offering suggestions that differentiate between those patients in permanent vegetative states (as Terri was) and those terminally ill, profoundly disabled or in states of minimal consciousness. One of the book's great attributes is Shepherd's willingness (rare in my experience) to second-guess even her own suggestions, while at the same time recognizing that everyone comes to this issue with differing viewpoints, insights, fears and beliefs. Her approach of thoughtful, factual, almost individualized assessment of such difficult cases seems clear-headed, reasonable and a guiding light for our policy-makers. Highly, highly recommended.
Click Here to see more reviews about: If That Ever Happens to Me: Making Life and Death Decisions after Terri Schiavo (Studies in Social Medicine)
Every day, thousands of people quietly face decisions as agonizing as those made famous in the Terri Schiavo case. Throughout that controversy, all kinds of people-politicians, religious leaders, legal and medical experts-made emphatic statements about the facts and offered even more certain opinions about what should be done. To many, courts were either ordering Terri's death by starvation or vindicating her constitutional rights. Both sides called for simple answers. If That Ever Happens to Me details why these simple answers were not right for Terri Schiavo and why they are not right for end-of-life decisions today.
Lois Shepherd looks behind labels like "starvation," "care," or "medical treatment" to consider what care and feeding really mean, when feeding tubes might be removed, and why disability groups, the faithful, and even the dying themselves often suggest end-of-life solutions that they might later regret. For example, Shepherd cautions against living wills as a pat answer. She provides evidence that demanding letter-perfect documents can actually weaken, rather than bolster, patient choice.
The actions taken and decisions made during Terri Schiavo's final years will continue to have repercussions for thousands of others-those nearing death, their families, health-care professionals, attorneys, lawmakers, clergy, media, researchers, and ethicists. If That Ever Happens to Me is an excellent choice for anyone interested in end-of-life law, policy, and ethics-particularly readers seeking a deeper understanding of the issues raised by Terri Schiavo's case.
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