This volume presents an interdisciplinary perspective on end-of-life matters, covering themes such as patients' rights to determine their own good death, considering their best interests when communication becomes difficult and the role and responsibilities of health professionals. The book also outlines how ethical healthcare might be achieved when dealing with assisted suicide by organizations and how end of life services in general might be improved. It is of interest to students and academics working in the area of medical law and ethics as well as health professionals and policy-makers.

Lynn Hagger is a lecturer in law at the University of Sheffield. Her research interests lie in health care generally and children's rights in particular. In parallel with her legal career, she has a 15-year history of non-executive involvement in the NHS during which time she has provided law and ethics training for a broad range of health professionals. She was Chairperson of the Sheffield Children's NHS Trust for nine years until 2008 Simon Woods is a senior lecturer at the Policy, Ethics and Life Sciences Research Centre (PEALS), University of Newcastle (UK) where he is the Deputy Executive Director and Director of Learning. PEALS is an ethics 'Think Tank' involved in research teaching and public engagement on the ethical and social implications of the life sciences. He is an established applied philosopher who specialises in social philosophy and bioethics. He has experience of working in major international bioethics research projects, and extensive experience as a teacher of bioethics.

Contents: Foreword; Preface; Introduction, Lynn Hagger and Simon Woods; The right to demand treatment or death, James Munby; Redefining death?, Daniele Bryden; Defining personhood to death, John Erik Troyer; Suicide centres: a reasonable requirement or a step too far?, Lynn Hagger and Christoph Rehmann Sutter; Health economics: decisions and choices at the end of life, Vincent Kirkbride; The 'good death', palliative care and end of life ethics, Simon Woods; Children, law and a good death, Lynn Hagger; Practical realities of decision-making relating to end of life care, Jeff Perring; The story of Isabel, Sabine Vanacker; Index.