dying

At the request of family members, staff of the JGH’s Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit can create a special memento—a heart-shaped pillow bearing the painted imprint of the hand of a loved one who has passed away while in the hospital.

Even though Jewish tradition considers life to be sacred, extraordinary measures do not always need to be taken to prolong the life of a dying person, an expert on Jewish medical ethics explained at a JGH lecture.