ABSTRACT
Religious beliefs are central to how one approaches the end of life. Belief in an efficacious, caring god, a god who can be reached through prayer, is particularly important. For those who pray often, god should be trusted. Active intervention to hasten the end of life was far more likely to be opposed. Beyond religious beliefs, the practicalities of allocating health care entered the picture. What are the appropriate criteria for rationing health care. Age? Ability to pay? Are there lives less worthy of prolonging than others? When life reaches a certain point, are we simply prolonging death rather than protecting life. How do we best maintain the dignity of life that remains?
