Denial of the Soul : Spiritual and Medical Perspectives on Euthanasia and Mortality

Rating:
Summary: A New Perspective
Review: Do you fear death or the dying process? This book will address that. Are you young and in relatively good health, and have a hard time feeling compassion on people who are older and/or less agile? This book can increase your compassion and patience. Are you entering the last few years of your life and want to "finish well"? This book can help you do that. This book is for everyone; because everyone will deal with death and dying in their life. Denial of the Soul demonstrates Peck's medical knowlege combined with his understanding of people and how we deal with and fear physical pain, and this book forces its reader to think about their own mortality, grapple with it, and hopefully come to accept it. Peck shows that death isn't something to live in fear of, but that the dying process is a beautiful way to learn how to depend on other people and on God--and that the dying process doesn't have to be wrought with physical pain. It's really worth it for everyone to read this book at some point, and I would agree with the other reviewers that it should be sooner rather than later.

Rating:
Summary: Another Masterpiece By Scott Peck
Review: There's a reason Dr. Peck is one of my favorite authors, and this book once more demonstrates why. Denial of the Soul is a brave and important book that carefully and objectively explores the entire issue of euthanasia from both a medical and spiritual standpoint. Frequently touching and always well reasoned, once again he has produced a masterpiece that should give the thoughtful reason plenty to digest as he or she struggles to decide for themselves how they feel about the idea of terminating a human life-especially their own. This is much more than simply a book about the pros and cons of "pulling the plug" on the terminally ill, but explores a whole range of questions regarding hospice care, suicide and mercy killing, doctor assisted euthanasia, pain management, and quality of life issues (his chapter on pain management alone should be required reading for every first year medical student and nurse trainee.) His spiritual perspective on the issue-which he covers in some depth in the second half of the book-is more subjective and problematic, but he does manage to successfully bring God into the debate, for which I consider him among the bravest of medical professionals. His no-nonsense approach and personal antidotes make this one of those books you'll be thinking about long after you've read the last words.

As is true of all of Peck's books, however, I found myself enthusiastically agreeing with 95% of everything he wrote and vehemently disagreeing with the remaining 5%. He approaches the spiritual aspect of the debate from a purely liberal Christian perspective (and the political elements of it from a similar perspective) and so makes some statements that I couldn't help but challenge. For example, he considers the purpose of life to experience the emotional and physical pain necessary to mature us spiritually and, hence, considers any effort to end ones own life an attempt to short-circuit the process. He considers the dying process to be an important part of the learning process and gives many examples from his personal experiences that show the positive results of doing the "hard work" involved in dying. However, he admits himself that many people-in fact, perhaps most-seem to gain nothing from the experience and leave this world kicking and screaming, seemingly challenging the notion that the process of dying is inherently useful as a tool of spiritual growth. Also, his contention that the soul "belongs" to God since he is its creator not only clearly betrays his thoroughly Christian perspective, but is unsubstantiated by anything more than his own assumption. I was a co-creator in the creation of my sons but I never considered them my property because of it. As a consequence, I don't follow his logic in this regard.

My only significant criticism of the book is the ending, in which he seems to waffle all over the place. After 200 pages of building his case, I was disappointed to see him retreat with the excuse that he was going to let the reader decide for themselves on the issue, but then I guess that's the point of any work of this nature. The decision when and how to end one's own life is a personal choice that can be made only by those who find themselves in that situation. It can't be made by religion or government or even by science, and that, after all, is the truth of all life. Peck gives us something to think about, but we must ultimately make the final decision which is, I suspect, exactly the way God wants us to play it. In any case, thank you Dr. Peck for another little gem of light to help us illuminate an otherwise horribly confused world.

Rating:
Summary: Searching for the soul
Review: This book addresses the question of euthanasia in America. It presents the spiritual issues surrounding death and life - issues which the Peck feels are not fully considered when considering euthanasia.

He distinguishes between pain and suffering - how pain can and should be alleviated, and why it should not be the cause of seeking a quick death.

His book is important for those who will face death, either themselves or in others. It is a brave attempt to clear the conflict regarding euthanasia.