Final Acts of Love

First as a professional thanatologist and then as a witness to the painful dying of a family member, Jamison describes the impetus of the research project on which he based this book. In contacts with nearly 200 people from various walks of life, he was made privy to their roles in assisted deaths. Eschewing current medical and legal controversy, Jamison focuses on the issue of control, whether a person is dying, helping another to die or providing care. What he describes as guidelines for self-exploration are offered as preparation in cases of terminal illness and intractable pain. Although claims of neutrality are made by Jamison, he is a former director of the Hemlock Society, U.S.A. This sensitive guide could be a valuable resource for anyone who must face the issue of assisted death. (Jan.)