THE RIGHT TO DIE

 Gay's extensive experience in covering controversial issues is put to good use here. Briefly but comprehensively, with plenty of real-life situations (of particular interest to teenage readers), she illuminates the pain felt by everyone involved in the choices that must be made at life's end (among many telling quotes, a hospice nurse says, ``For the first time in the 30 years that I've been a nurse, I'm thinking about my license before I think about my patient''). Gay's style makes the legal issues and organizational posturing easily understandable; advocates of all positions--right-to-lifers to Hemlock Society activists--are quoted fairly and effectively. A fully documented, well-integrated alternative to debate-style presentations--with endnotes, a bibliography, and a list of organizations to contact; index. B&w photos. (Nonfiction. 12+)