This book offers an in-depth analysis of the wide range of issues surrounding "passive euthanasia" and "allow-to-die" decisions. The author develops a comprehensive conceptual model that is highly useful for assessing and dealing with real-life situations. He presents an informative historical overview, an evaluation of the clinical settings in which treatment abatement takes place, and an insightful discussion of relevant legal aspects. The result is a clearly articulated ethical analysis that is medically realistic, philosophically sound, and legally viable.

1. From Death Observed to Death Forestalled: Changes in Perspective Toward Life-Threatening Illness; 2. Clinical Settings for Treatment Abatement Decisions; 3. Autonomous Patients and the Legal Right to Refuse Life-Sustaining Treatment; 4. Abating Treatment on the Behalf of Nonautonomous Patients; 5. Planning for the Possibility of Treatment Abatement; 6. Options Among Ethicists; 7. Treatment Abatement and Other End-of-Life Issues; 8. The Ethical Context for Treatment Abatement; 9. Substantive Matters, Procedural Problems, and Recommended Policies

Robert F. WeirDirector, Program in Biomedical Ethics, University of Iowa College of Medicine

"Professor Weir has accomplished a prodigious feat with his book Abating Treatment with Critically Ill Patients. He skillfully interweaves medical, legal and ethical perspectives on this troubling problem. His straightforward analysis of the relevant issues is a welcome contribution to rational decisionmaking for all those involved in this extraordinarily complex area" --Frances H. Miller, J.D., Boston University