The book takes the reader through the worlds of medical technology, life, death & the law. This is by no means another how-to-book that leaves the reader feeling empty & confused. Although the subject is demanding, the book is written in an upbeat & positive fashion. Living Wills are not about pulling the plug. They are about planning & control. They are about accepting the good which medical technology has to offer & rejecting the unwanted. Medical care & dying are eventualities which need to be discussed. Modern technology can extend life often beyond that which the patient may wish to tolerate. The first portion of the book helps the reader understand the broadening gap between medical technology & the ability to cure disease. Next, the book educates the reader about the medical & legal communities, providing definitions of certain life-sustaining treatment & legal terms. This is followed by a historic perspective of the legal principles & important cases dealing with the individual's right to choose or reject certain medical treatments. The final portion of the book focuses on certain high risk groups whose members may be more likely than others to require life-sustaining treatment.