From assisted suicide to the basic standards of nursing and residential care, debates around end of life issues are rarely out of the news. This succinct guide represents current thinking in the Church of England and offers a framework for ethical decision making and the highest standards of pastoral care in often complex and challenging situations.
Chapter One outlines the theological and ethical basis for Church's contribution to end of life debates
Chapter Two explores the dynamics of decision making in hospital based end of life care
Chapter Three considers issues in organ donation
Chapter Four explores the ethics and the wider impact of assisted suicide.

Brendan McCarthy was the Church of England's National Policy adviser on medical ethics (2009-2023). He was a hospital chaplain and had served as a non-executive director of the Western Health and Social Care Trust. He was an adviser to the Parades' Commission of Northern Ireland. He was also full-time rector of Ardtrea and Desertcreat parishes (1983-1990), Drumragh with Mountfield parishes (1990-1996) and Senior Leader of Omagh Community Centre (1996-2010). He has been part-time Priest-in-Charge of the Swanlinbar group of parishes (2010-2014) and the Manorhamilton group of parishes (2014-2018).
His passions include family, writing, history and football.