Description
Springer To Live and to Die When Why and How 1st Editon 2012 Softbound by R.H. Williams
In the 1960's marked changes occurred throughout the world in philosophies and policies related to man's role in life. These changes, prompted predominantly by extensive increases in knowledge and popula tion density, have produced increased pleasures as well as problems. The rising number of people and improved methods of communication and transportation have caused more relationships among people, with their pleasures, competitions, jealousies, conflicts of interest, oppressions, and crimes. Large assortments of drugs have been developed and are easily obtained. There are drugs to speed us up, slow us down, make us sleep, change our perspectives on life, promote propagation of life or prevent it, prolong life or terminate it, and modify the course of life in many ways. Also, numerous mechanical devices have been developed that influence the propagation of life, the termination of life, and the manner in which we live. Many people have changed their overall goals in life, and in par ticular have experienced major changes in attitudes and policies applying to sexual activity, marriage, birth control, abortion, welfare, children, old people, criminals, economics, social status, careers, education, euthanasia, and suicide. There also has been marked enlightenment concerning the effect of the chemical and physical status of the brain upon normal and abnormal thinking and behavior. 1 Prologue.- Why live and why die?.- Some guidelines for living and dying.- Quality and quantity of population.- Childhood and adolescence.- Student riots and demands.- Careers.- Anxieties and fears.- Drug use and alcoholism.- Crime.- Equalization of people.- Prejudice and discrimination.- Marriage.- Euthanasia.- Summary.- 2 Metabolism, Mentation, and Behavior.- Some factors in normal mentation.- Neurotransmitters.- Acetylcholine.- Catecholamines.- Serotonin.- Learning and memory.- Sleep.- Coma.- Metabolic disorders associated with abnormal mentation.- Genetic disorders.- Endocrine disorders.- Mental depression and mania.- Schizophrenia.- Summary.- References.- 3 Body, Mind, and Soul.- Conclusions.- References.- 4 On the Origin of Life.- The concept.- The search for an answer.- The past.- Some thermodynamics and kinetics.- Self-replication.- Evolution.- Does life exist elsewhere?.- References.- 5 Genetic Engineering: Present and Future.- Gene action: DNA ? RNA ? protein.- Prevention of the birth of children with genetic defects.- Mutations.- Genetic counseling.- Intrauterine diagnosis and selective abortion.- Indications for intrauterine diagnosis.- Chromosomal disorders.- Enzyme deficiencies.- X-chromosome diseases.- Determination of the sex of the baby.- Artificial fertilization.- Cloning.- Therapy of genetic diseases without changing the abnormal gene.- Gene replacement with normal DNA: true “genetic engineering”.- Preparation of the DNA for gene replacement.- Insertion of the DNA into recipient cells.- Integration of the replacement DNA into the host cell chromosome.- Expression of the new gene in the cell.- Potential applications.- Pitfalls.- References.- 6 The Climax of World Population Growth.- Is world population growth slowing down?.- The alternative possibilities.- 7 Propagation, Modification, and Termination of Life: Contraception, Abortion, Suicide, Euthanasia.- Quantity and quality of propagation.- Methods of population control.- Sterilization and castration.- Abortion.- Amniocentesis.- Better control of the quantity and quality of propagation.- Promoting reproduction in some instances.- Modification of genetic patterns.- Organ transplantation.- Termination of life.- Suicide.- Euthanasia.- Negative euthanasia.- Positive euthanasia.- Discussion of euthanasia.- a. Religion.- b. Laws.- c. Traditions of society.- d. Physician’s role.- e. The role of the patient and his family.- Conclusions.- References.- 8 An Alternative to the Ethic of Euthanasia.- The ethic of euthanasia.- An ethic of benemortasia.- References.- 9 Ethics and Euthanasia.- The ethical and the pre-ethical.- Elective death.- Means and ends.- 10 Ethical and Moral Problems in the Use of Artificial and Transplanted Organs.- The patient-recipient.- The living donor.- The potential cadaveric (dying) donor.- Families of recipients and donors.- The medical team: physicians and surgeons.- Society.- The future.- References.- 11 Management of the Sick with Kindness, Compassion, Wisdom, and Efficiency.- Medicine as a career.- Settings for optimal practice.- The physician’s management of the patient.- Attitudes and responsibilities of patients.- Death.- References.- 12 Life and Death: Lessons from the Dying.- The meaning of death in the history of man’s life.- The quality of life and the acceptance of death.- References.- 13 The Here and the Hereafter: Reflections on Tragedy and Comedy in Human Existence.- 14 Too Many and Too Few Limitations for Children.- Introduction: The need for historical perspective.- And today.- Some cases in point.- Some recommendations.- References.- 15 Careers and Living.- Rewards for success.- Selecting goals.- Some general considerations.- Selection of specific goals.- Attaining goals.- Obligations and responsibilities.- The role of leaders.- Summary and conclusions.- 16 Advantages and Disadvantages of Technological Achievements.- The amb