The Right to Die: A Neurosurgeon Speaks of Death with Candor

absence accept allow American Hospital Association American Humanist Association American Medical Association Anatomical Gift asked attitude blood body brain death brain stem cancer cells cerebrum child Christopher's commit suicide competent considered court dead decision declaration definition of death deformed diagnosis dignity disease doctor document donor electroencephalogram Ethical fear feel function hospital human death Humanist husband incompetent individual informed consent irreversible coma Journal live medical treatment Medicine mentally retarded mercy killing moral mother Myelomeningocele neurosurgeon nursing home organ organ transplant pain paralyzed parents patient's wishes percent permit person physical physician problem professor emeritus professor of philosophy prolong reason reflexes request respiration responsibility right to die right to know right to refuse says SECTION sense severe social society specific spinal spite staff subhuman suffering surgery terminally ill tion told tragedy transplantation treat tumor understand University valid wife York