In the past, doctors and families alike felt that prolonging life was the best form of treatment when, in fact, this oftentimes results in additional pain and suffering—with a low quality of life. But Dr. Sidney Wanzer, a proponent of the right-to-die movement, advocates a patient’s right to control decisions about end-of-life treatment and ensure a peaceful death. In To Die Well, Wanzer spells out the rights of the patient and how to stay in control of advance directives. The book contains testimonials from medical experts, patients, and their families and shows how early planning can make an immense difference in the outcome for both the patient and the family, since emotion and tension are often high as a loved one nears death. This book is a valuable guide to ending a life with as much dignity as it was lived.
