Choice 评论

In this review by Kung, Jens surveys the literature, e.g., Sherwin B. Nuland's How We Die (1994) ("there is no dignity in death"). Dietrich Neithammer (a physician), and Albin Eser (an attorney) are joined by Kung, who analyzes the papal encyclical Evangelium vitae (life after death), which discusses help in dying with safeguards to avoid abuse. Niethammer thinks doctors cannot be trusted to "ease the passing" (society's fault also). The dying need dialogue, not laws; Eser discusses legalizing euthanasia and offers legal guidelines. Doctors help one another die; why not help others? The papal encyclical divides humanity into a culture of life (those who agree with the Pope) and a culture of death (those who differ on contraception, abortion, and help in dying). Kung notes that the three points are not in the Christian Gospels, and that the Pope has not spoken infallibly (ex cathedra) on this issue. Kung calls for a middle ground between liberal and conservative: "There should be no compulsion to die but there should be no compulsion to live either." Suffering and dying people should have maximum support; palliative medicine helps but is not always the answer. The final point made in the book is that we are responsible in death as well as in life. All levels. H. O. Thompson University of Pennsylvania