The Patient Self Determination Act and "Dax's case"

Euthanasia and the intertwining issues such as suicide, legal and professional responsibility, and cultural history have been widely discussed. The Patient Self-Determination Act is to be valued for its providing for these discussions and also for making it possible for people to exercise their right to choose their treatment. But these discussions while helpful in many ways often lack the vividness of a principal story pursued extensively. At this moment, one resource for a profound exploration of patient rights and the decision to live or die is the outstanding collection of essays edited by Lonnie Kliever in Dax's Case: Essays in Medical Ethics and Human Meaning. This collection is focused on one story. This work provides one of the most comprehensive discussions that deepens and clarifies issues through examination of one disturbing case.