Between Life and Death: A Gospel-Centered Guide to End-Of-Life Medical Care

Introduction

Part 1: Dying, but Alive in Christ

1. Framing the Issue
2. Wisdom Begins with the Word

Part 2: A Detailed Look at Organ-Supporting Measures

3. Resuscitation for Cardiac Arrest  
4. Introduction to Intensive Care
5. Mechanical Ventilation
6. Cardiovascular Support: Vasopressors, Inotropes, and Lines
7. Artificially Administered Nutrition
8. Dialysis
9. Brain Injury

Part 3: Discernment at Life’s End

10. Comfort Measures and Hospice
11. Physician-Assisted Suicide
12. Advance Care Planning
13. Being a Voice: Surrogate Decision Making

Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Appendix 1: Summary Chart of Organ-Supporting Measures
Appendix 2: Sample Advance Directive
Appendix 3: Scripture Passages for Comfort
Glossary
Notes
Further Reading
General Index
Scripture Index

 

Kathryn Butler (MD, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons) is a trauma surgeon who is board certified in surgical critical care and served on the faculty at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. After a decade of experience in surgery, she left clinical practice in 2016 to homeschool her children. She now writes for desiringGod.org, Christianity Today, and the Gospel Coalition blog on topics intersecting faith and medicine.