Full Idea
It is often suggested that medical intervention which goes beyond easing pain or distress is not saving life but 'prolonging the act of dying'.
Gist of Idea
Maybe extreme treatment is not saving life, but prolonging the act of dying
Source
Jonathan Glover (Causing Death and Saving Lives [1977], §15.6)
Book Reference
Glover,Jonathan: 'Causing Death and Saving Lives' [Penguin 1982], p.197
A Reaction
This is an important idea to keep in mind, but still a very difficult call to make. It needs to be presented to those who fight for life, at any cost in money, time, medical resources, or suffering. May people probably give up unnecessarily.