Families and End–of–Life Treatment Decisions An International Perspective

Just published, Families and End–of–Life Treatment Decisions: An International Perspective, analyzes the current status and role of family and other surrogates at the end of life.  



Numerous European national laws are compared and bench-marked against other practices, in North and South America, in Africa and in some Asian countries.  The chapters include:

• Loved ones’ role in end of life care: evaluating deontological and utilitarian ethical arguments


• The individual nature of death


• The dying person and the triangle of loved ones : for a relational approach to the end of life


• A physician’s view on the complexity of end of life care and the role of family and close friends


• Family and loved ones in end of life care in French law : does end of life shape and define the “family”?


• The central role in Germany of the “Angehorige” in enhancing patient autonomy at the end of life


• The preeminence of relationships in the legal recognition of the rights of the patient’s loved ones in Switzerland


• End-of-life medical treatment: a limited role for loved ones to enhance patient autonomy


• A role for loved ones to promote patient autonomy at the end of life


• The broad definition of “relatives” in end of life care in Spain


• The central power of physicians over end of life matters in Italy


• Patient rights at the end of life and the role of family and loved ones in Greek law


• Ethical and legal debates on a dignified end-of-life and the role of the family in Hungary


• Loved ones and end-of-life medical care: the particular approach of Tunisian law


• Family, “loved ones” and medicalized end-of-life decision making in Senegal


• Multiculturalism and religion in end-of-life care in Lebanon


• Loved ones and end-of-life medical care in Turkish law


• End-of-life medical care: towards recognition of patient autonomy in Brazil


• “Loved ones” and end-of-life medical treatment in Chile


• Surrogate decision-making role in end of life care: the case of the USA


• The family and end-of-life medical treatment in Japan


• Families and end-of-life treatment decisions: an international study