2nd Edition available at Hilton Publishing

“I had the opportunity to read a pre-publication of this book [1st Ed]. It is simply outstanding. It was genius to concoct such a book, and the book itself is jam packed with indispensable knowledge for patients and families who expect to encounter or have encountered a problem that tests their values and beliefs. Highly recommended!”  (Dr. Glenn McGee, Founding Editor, American Journal of Bioethics, 2010)

“Finding Your Way [is] a revolutionary new book about bioethics intended for patients and their families. What’s  revolutionary is the belated and welcome effort to offer bioethics basics to patients, who are often left out of the conversation about the bioethical principles that so greatly impact their care.” (Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, 2012)

“…a rich resource…designed to help readers think about serious decisions before they arise, the book’s chapters each cover a medical situation with ethical overtones. In plain language designed for the lay person, the book would be a welcome addition to health care providers’ reading lists to better understand the patient’s perspective as well.”  (Medical Library Association/CAPHIS, 2012)

“This book is designed to help patients and families make informed decisions about medical and ethical issues they may face. Written in plain language for the lay reader, it can help in both medical decision-making and planning for future health care. Each chapter presents one topic that might arise in life, along with a fictional case that sets the stage for discussion.  Some of the topics that might be of particular interest to people with dementia and their families include advance directives, refusing medical treatment, health care at the end of life, neuroethics (issues that arise when illness affects the brain), genetic testing, and participating in a research study. Other topics include Do Not Resuscitate Orders, non-beneficial medical interventions, quality of life and treatment burdens, patient privacy and confidentiality, transplant ethics, reproductive technology, and pediatric ethics. The book also has a list of helpful resources and a glossary of frequently used terms in medical ethics and health care.”  (National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, 2012)

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With co-author Rena Down, my second book, The Organ Donor Experience: Good Samaritans and the Meaning of Altruism, was published by Rowman & Littlefield in Oct 2011.  Order via this link or check Amazon for availability.

“Bramstedt & Down’s The Organ Donor Experience has done what none have before: tell the story of all phases of organ donation from the donor’s perspective. By doing this, the reader is thrust into the mind of the donors, to understand their motivations and ultimately, what is altruistic behavior. This is an essential read for all those interested in organ donation.”  (Dr. Richard Fatica, Medical Director, Kidney Transplantation, Cleveland Clinic)

“…[The Organ Donor Experience] escapes the drudgery of a research-laden study and instead reads as a fascinating story of a very human issue.”  (Publisher’s Weekly, 12/05/2011)

“Bramstedt and Down look at the motivations and experiences of 22 Good Samaritans who have donated a kidney, a lobe of the liver, or part of a lung to a stranger….Concepts of altruism are also considered: Are we prewired for it, or do we learn it? The authors provide information about the evaluation of potential candidates for organ donation, the surgery itself, possible complications, and the effects on family members while telling the stories of Good Samaritan organ donors.”  (American Library Association Booklist, Jan 2012)

“This book provides a unique and compelling perspective…. The authors seamlessly weave together a scholarly analysis of organ donation to strangers and the stories of these donors….he analysis and stories are challenging, leading the reader to welcome the appendix of resources for those who want more information.  Bramstedt and Down are to be commended for informing readers about an underreported aspect of organ donation and honoring these “good Samaritans” in this scholarly and readable book. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels.”  (CHOICE Reviews Online, May 2012)