This series of studies on law, ethics and medicine contributes to the debate on when and how it is permissable to terminate life, to warn of death, and to deal with tragedy in its aftermath. The essays are wide-ranging, provocative and timely.

List of contributors, Preface Law, ethics and death: silence and symbolism, 1 AGAINST THE DEFINITION OF BRAINSTEM DEATH, 2 ‘WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER?’, 3 POWER OVER DEATH: THE FINAL STING, 4 CORPSES, RECYCLING AND THERAPEUTIC PURPOSES, 5 MEDICAL FUTILITY: CPR, 6 ICU TRIAGE: THE ETHICS OF SCARCITY, THE IDEAL OF IMPARTIALITY AND THE INADVERTENT ENDORSEMENT OF EVIL, 7 FROM VISION TO SYSTEM: THE MATURING OF THE HOSPICE MOVEMENT, 8 ANIMAL RIGHTS AND WRONGS: MEDICAL ETHICS AND THE KILLING OF NON-HUMAN ANIMALS, 9 TAILORING MULTIPARITY: THE DILEMMAS SURROUNDING DEATH BY SELECTIVE REDUCTION OF PREGNANCY, 10 DISASTERS: THE ROLE OF INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSES IN SHAPING PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF DEATH, 11 RELATIVELY LATE PAYMENTS: DAMAGES BEYOND DEATH AND BEREAVEMENT, 12 RISKING DEATH BY DANGEROUS SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR AND THE CRIMINAL LAW, 13 DEATHLY SILENCE: DOCTORS’ DUTY TO DISCLOSE DANGERS OF DEATH, Index