Describing Death in America: What We Need to Know: Executive Summary - Softcover

National Research Council; Institute Of Medicine; Division On Earth And Life Studies; National Cancer Policy Board

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0309087252 ISBN 13: 9780309087254

Publisher: National Academies Press, 2003

Synopsis

National expenditures for medical care in the months and days preceding death are enormous. But we do not know whether that money is buying good quality care or optimizing the quality of life of those dying, or whether the situation is getting better or worse over time. The information that exists a /describing deatha at a national level a " though some of it is very informative a " is fragmentary. This report recommends ways to fill the information gaps by better use of existing nationally-representative data, and through some new measures, in particular, a new, ongoing National Mortality Followback Survey. The aim is to allow us to benchmark where we are today as a society, and what goals we can set to minimize pain and suffering and maximize the quality of life of all of us who will die in the years to come.

About this title

About the Author:

June R. Lunney, Kathleen M. Foley, Thomas J. Smith, and Helen Gelband, Editors, National Research Council

About this edition

• Publisher: National Academies Press
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0309087252
• ISBN 13: 9780309087254
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 123
• Editor: Gelband Helen, Smith Thomas J., Foley Kathleen M., Lunney June R.