Definition of "End of Life"

Stephen
Drake, a well-informed advocate for Not Dead Yet, posted the following comment to my
post on Wednesday, "Minnesota 's Four
Pending End-of-Life Cases."  It is a good question, and I will
respond to it here.

I've
probably asked this before, but could you give me a concise definition for
"end of life" that covers all of these cases? Numbers 1 and 4 are
pretty standard - involving guardianship in the first (although some cases in
other states have involved withholding treatment from people under guardianship
expected to recover) in number 1 and ramifications of advance directives in
number 4.In number 2, in which you used scare quotes
around 'encouraging', a man was accused of having a hobby of sorts - assuming a
different identity, seeking out suicidal young people, and yes - encouraging
them to commit suicide, even advising means.Number 3 involves the Final Exit Network - which
facilitates the suicides of nonterminally ill people and even cleans up the
death scene to make it look like a natural death. At least one of the
defendants - Lawrence Egbert - admitted in an interview that he often supplies
used plastic bags for suicides to save 'clients' the expense.What single concise definition of 'end of life'
covers all of these situations? Is it expansive enough to cover the decision of
a death row inmate to halt appeals on her behalf?I'm genuinely fascinated - is there some sort of
logic in terms of what gets deemed 'end of life' and what gets called
'something else/?

I follow a great deal of professional, academic,
and popular literature that uses the noun "end of life" or adjective "end-of-life."  Most
of it uses the term to reference a consistent set of situation domains.
 Personally, I use the term to refer to situations in which decisions are made about whether to hasten or prolong life in the face of serious injury or illness.   

Yes, the Melcher-Dinkel case itself does not fit within this definition.  Indeed, it was not an "end-of-life" case back when he was convicted.  But the case is now before the state's highest court.  That court's interpretation of the assisted suicide statute and analysis of its constitutionality will affect not only Melchert-Dinkel but also others like FEN and Compassion & Choices.

The work of FEN fits within my definition.  While FEN does not limits its assistance to "terminally Ill" patients, it focuses on helping patients with serious injuries or advanced chronic diseases like cancer, ALS, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, or advanced Alzheimer’s.