Managing death in the intensive care unit: bringing back the humanity

This new book, edited by Curtis and Rubenfeld, is a very helpful resource for all who work in an intensive care unit (ICU). Although a substantial amount of research has recently explored end of life care in the ICU, few textbooks have included a discussion on how to care for dying patients. This book is the first to fill this glaring void. It combines a comprehensive summary of our current knowledge with guidance on ethical and legal issues, as well some practical suggestions for critical care providers. It reminds us that, although the challenges of caring for the critically ill and the exciting technologies may combine to draw us to the field, the practice of critical care demands that we never forget to use our art to comfort those who will survive and those who will not.