Can be"-but, too often, is not. Too many things militate against a fitting approach to death. Despite all evidence to the contrary, we insist on assuming we are immortal and assuring each other that al of us are on a space walk, immune from the laws of celestial gravity. Dont worry, says the doctor, it's only a little ulcer","Come now, "says the nurse, "You mustn,'t talk like that, you're going to be A well-rounded life should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Not just for reasons of symmetry but because, though I may be mortal, the social system of which I am a part is immortal and my arrival into and departure from that social system are important events which need to be prepared for. Medicine should not confine itself to the prevention of death any more than family planning should confine itself to the prevention of birth. But it is, perhaps, no coincidence that the century which produced Marie Stopes and Alexander Fleming also produced grantly Dick Reid and Elisabeth Kubler-Ross It seems that incipient mortality, though less easy to predict than incipient nativity, is equally a proper matter for preparation and study Dr Ross is not alone in her concern for those who are about to die. Important work has been done in Britain by Professor John Hinton and Dr. Cicely Saunders, and already two scientific journals are appearing in the United States that deal exclusively with matters pertaining to death and bereavement. france too has its "Societe de thanatologie de la langue francaise"which publishes a regular Bulletin But death(like life) is too serious a subject to be taken solemnly, and one of the most cheerful friendly places I know is a small institution in south London which specializes in the treatment of cancer patients with a prognosis of six weeks or less. Here the aim is to augment the quality rather than the quantity of the life that remains to each patient, and if there are times of sorrow and regret when patients and their families face up to the real disappointments that occur, there are also times of happiness and peace when people stop striving for unreal ends and make a good job of a real ending In this book we shall find described the way in which some American people coped with death Despite the cultural differences, they are very similar to people in the United Kingdom and there is no need for me to attempt to translate the clear exposition which Dr. Ross has given us. Others might(and probably will)adopt a different terminology when describing the phases through which the dying patient passes in the course of his illness. Since individual variation is so great,it unlikely that any one conceptual system could be applied to all. But the overall picture, and the illustrative examples on which it is based, must stand. They stand as a reproach to some,an encouragement to others. and a lesson to al This book is important reading for nurses, doctors, clergy, and others whose work brings them into contact with the dying. It is also recommended to any reader who refuses to believe that the best way to deal with fear is to run away s One has the awesome title of The Journal of Thanatology and the other Omega"Can be"-but, too often, is not. Too many things militate against a fitting approach to death. Despite all evidence to the contrary, we insist on assuming we are immortal and assuring each other that all of us are on a space walk, immune from the laws of celestial gravity. "Don't worry," says the doctor, "it's only a little ulcer"; "Come now," says the nurse, "You mustn't talk like that, you're going to be all right." A well-rounded life should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Not just for reasons of symmetry but because, though I may be mortal, the social system of which I am a part is immortal and my arrival into and departure from that social system are important events which need to be prepared for. Medicine should not confine itself to the prevention of death any more than family planning should confine itself to the prevention of birth. But it is, perhaps, no coincidence that the century which produced (VIII) Marie Stopes and Alexander Fleming also produced Grantly Dick Reid and Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. It seems that incipient mortality, though less easy to predict than incipient nativity, is equally a proper matter for preparation and study. Dr. Ross is not alone in her concern for those who are about to die. Important work has been done in Britain by Professor John Hinton and Dr. Cicely Saunders, and already two scientific journals are appearing in the United States that deal exclusively with matters pertaining to death and bereavement." France too has its "Societe de Thanatologie de la Langue Francaise", which publishes a regular Bulletin. But death (like life) is too serious a subject to be taken solemnly, and one of the most cheerful, friendly places I know is a small institution in south London which specializes in the treatment of cancer patients with a prognosis of six weeks or less. Here the aim is to augment the quality rather than the quantity of the life that remains to each patient, and if there are times of sorrow and regret when patients and their families face up to the real disappointments that occur, there are also times of happiness and peace when people stop striving for unreal ends and make a good job of a real ending. In this book we shall find described the way in which some American people coped with death. Despite the cultural differences, they are very similar to people in the United Kingdom and there is no need for me to attempt to translate the clear exposition which Dr. Ross has given us. Others might (and probably will) adopt a different terminology when describing the phases through which the dying patient passes in the course of his illness. Since individual variation is so great, it is unlikely that any one conceptual system could be applied to all. But the overall picture, and the illustrative examples on which it is based, must stand. They stand as a reproach to some, an encouragement to others, and a lesson to all. This book is important reading for nurses, doctors, clergy, and others whose work brings them into contact with the dying. It is also recommended to any reader who refuses to believe that the best way to deal with fear is to run away. * One has the awesome title of The Journal of Thanatology and the other Omega