This major new work updates and significantly expands the hastings centers 1987 guidelines on the termination of life sustaining treatment and care of the dying like its predecessor this second edition will shape the ethical and legal framework for decision making on treatment and end of life care in the united states. Decisions about life sustaining treatment are often ethically challenging for patients surrogate decision makers and health care professionals providing safe effective and compassionate care near the end of life is a priority for health care organizations in times of uncertainty crisis or reflection and in efforts to improve health care for seriously ill patients guidelines can help this is an expanded and updating version of the hastings centers 1987 guidelines on the . This major new work updates and significantly expands the hastings centers 1987 guidelines on the termination of life sustaining treatment and care of the dying like its predecessor this second edition will shape the ethical and legal framework for decision making on treatment and end of life care in the united states this groundbreaking work incorporates 25 years of research and innovation in clinical care law and policy. Guidelines on end of life care fi rst published in 1987 th ese guidelines are the product of that project th e 1987 guidelines on the termination of life sustaining treatment and the care of the dying th e hastings center and indiana university press were the single most infl u ential publication in th e hastings centers history th ey anticipated the development of