Hard Choices for Loving People: CPR, Artificial Feeding, Comfort Care, and the Patient with a Life-Threatening Illness

Since the first edition was printed in 1990, more than THREE MILLION copies of the Hard Choices for Loving People book have been sold to hospitals, nursing homes, hospice programs, and faith communities nationwide. Author Hank Dunn, a nursing home and hospice chaplain for 30 years, presents thoroughly-researched, reliable medical advice and thoughtful, honest answers for patients and their families dealing with life-threatening illnesses and end-of-life decisions.

Hard Choices clarifies issues surrounding end-of-life decisions in an easy-to-read format in language that is easily understood. The book covers the most common medical treatment decisions faced by those who are living with a life-threatening illness:

• CPR (resuscitation efforts)
• Artificial hydration and nutrition (artificial feeding tubes)
• Hospitalization of an ill person
• Shifting to a hospice approach
• Ventilators, dialysis, antibiotics and pain control, and more.

For anyone facing a life-threatening illness, this book offers comfort, care and a practical approach to dealing with the issues that accompany illness. In the closing chapter, “The Journey to Letting Be,” Chaplain Dunn explores the emotional and spiritual issues patients and families confront as they consider the end of life. These issues are thoughtfully explored and carefully examined as Chaplain Dunn shares his insight and experience surrounding the issues that ultimately affect us all.