No Good Deed: A Story of Medicine, Murder Accusations, and the Debate Over How We Die

I recommended this book to my Novel Book Club because even though it is non- fiction, "No Good Deed" reads like a novel. Lew Cohen tells the true story of two nurses who were accused of murder, for doing what they always do, helping a dying person to feel more comfortable. While reading this book, I was struck by how none of us knows how our lives will end, not ours and not the lives of the people we love. Lew Cohen describes different end of life decisions and how sometimes people decide to stop treatment and they are ready to die, and then they change their minds. Were they depressed when they said they were ready to die, or were they in denial when they insisted on further treatment? What are extra-ordinary measures and when is it best to artificially keep someone alive so that the people who love that person can say goodbye? "No Good Deed" asks lots of good questions, and answers many, and leaves others for us to think about.

I highly recommend Dr. Lewis Cohen's new book, "No Good Deed: A Story of Medicine, Murder Accusations and the Debate over How We Die." Dr. Cohen is a psychiatrist long dedicated to Palliative Care. The book tells the true story of two nurses at Baystate Medical Center who were accused of murder, while providing palliative care to a terminally ill woman. What is remarkable to me about the book, is the even-handed way Dr. Cohen writes about this story and the stories of others who found themselves in similar situations. The book could have easily presented one side of the story and it would still have been compelling. What elevates it, in my opinion, is his eloquent writing about the other side of this debate - good people who truly believe that some aspects of palliative care, particularly the use of morphine, equals murder. The book should be required reading for all of us who do our best to provide care at end of life. I found it troubling, heart-breaking and incredibly difficult to put down.

Dr. Cohen takes a true story and thoughtfully weaves his professional work in end of life decisions and bioethics, particularly with dialysis patients. How many times do we read about or think about birth, love, or life events? Only rarely do we have an opportunity to explore the ideas about how life ends, and how medicine has the conflicting role of prolonging life, but allowing a "proper" death. Dr. Cohen makes this story very readable by thoughtful character development and interview technique, combined with theory on the actual evens occurring. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to think through a usually poorly discussed part of life, which will effect us and those we love.

Earlier this week, I began No Good Deed. It has drawn me into the world of conflicting positions on end of life care decisions both articulately and easily. The author presents very complex arguments clearly, through not only his own impartial voice, but the words of so many medical and lay experts, that as a reader I feel I am being evenly presented with a great array of knowledge and experience without leaving my chair. All this and I haven't even finished the book yet! I especially like the way each chapter draws to a close with a bridge to the next chapter instead of a summary of what one has just read and nothing to carry one forward. I work in the hospice field and think it is a must read and discuss for anyone in end of life care.

Lew Cohen has written a book that is both suspenseful and provides lessons about how we make choices in life that let us also have a good death. He utilizes a compelling real-life story of 2 nurses to raise important issues that have come into our lives and our deaths as modern medicine maximizes keeping us alive. His experience and mastery of a vast and challenging field are evident in the conversant tone with which he discusses and makes understandable issues that are complex. I would want anyone caring for me or my loved ones to have read No Good Deed. Rarely have I seen an author who brings such knowledge, compassion and passion to a subject. I was captivated.