Aging, Death, and the Quest for ImmortalityC. Ben Mitchell, Robert David Orr, Susan A. Salladay Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004 - 198 pages Aging is a fact of life, and issues surrounding it are hot. There are currently 35 million Americans over the age of sixty-five -- more than ever. This demographic shift is noteworthy not only because the ranks of the elderly will continue to swell in coming years but also because it is taking place in what the editors of this book call an "ageist society," one that increasingly loathes every facet of aging. Indeed, the ethical issues associated with aging are among the thorniest in medicine and public policy today. Aging, Death, and the Quest for Immortality is a timely volume by physicians, health-care professionals, pastors, and ethicists who explore the experiences, dilemmas, and possibilities associated with aging. The book opens by offering three distinct perspectives on aging; this section includes practical suggestions for dealing with retirement, disability, healing, and death. Several contributors then analyze controversial ethical issues raised by aging and health care, including medical decision-making, the moral standing of patients with dementia, health-care rationing, and assisted suicide. A third group of essays applies a theology of care to ministry to and through older adults, the counseling of seniors, and the application of palliative care. The book closes by discussing some of the emerging technologies and interest groups aimed at achieving immortality, also asking, appropriately, what insights the Christian faith brings to the discussion. Reflecting much wisdom and sensitivity, this book will give welcome help to care providers and to those who are themselves in the later stages of life. Book jacket. |
From inside the book
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Contents
A Personal Perspective | 3 |
A Theologians Perspective | 17 |
A Geriatricians Perspective | 33 |
ETHICAL ISSUES IN AGING | 43 |
Ethical Issues in an Aging Population | 45 |
AgeBased Rationing of LifeSustaining Health Care | 58 |
Neuropsychological Aspects of Aging and Their Implications for DecisionMaking among the Elderly | 75 |
Inclusive Moral Standing | 87 |
Local Church Ministry to and through Older Adults | 107 |
The Virtues of Talk Therapy | 121 |
Suffering and Healing at the End of Life | 134 |
THE QUEST FOR IMMORTALITY | 151 |
The Quest for Immortality | 153 |
Reflections on Disability Life and God | 163 |
Immortality through Replication | 175 |
193 | |
Common terms and phrases
ability age criterion age-based rationing alchemist Alchemy Alzheimer's disease American assessment become believe Ben Mitchell biblical Bioethics Cancer Pain caregivers challenges Christ Christian church clinical cognitive culture David Snowdon death decision-making decisions dementia depression diagnosis disability divine dying elderly patients elderly persons embryo emotional eternal ethical experience faith family members fear genetic Geriatrics glorified glory God's passion gold health-care professionals homunculus hospital human cloning human embryo husband important increase individual issues Jesus John John Piper Journal Kilner limited lives Lord means Medicine moral neurocognitive neuropsychological older adults Opioid pain management palliative palliative care pastoral percent perspective Peter Singer Ph.D Philosopher's Stone physical physician population present problem questions relationship Rick Weiss sixty-five social society span spiritual suffering surrogate symptoms therapeutic cloning therapy things thinking tion treatment Trinity International University tube feeding