In 1969 Elisabeth Kübler-Ross opened a dialogue of debate on death and dying. She achieved this with her groundbreaking book “On Death and Dying.” In 1993, another doctor named Sherwin Nuland continued the dialogue with his popular book “How We Die: Reflections on Life's Final Chapter.” A comparison between chapter one, On the Fear of Death, of Kübler-Ross's book, and chapter seven, Accidents, Suicide and Euthanasia, of Nuland's book, shows that both Kübler-Ross and Nuland advocate control over the circumstances surrounding a patient's life. death. However, while Kübler-Ross advocates strong control over patients, Nuland emphasizes the need for control by doctors and society. The subtitle of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's book describes her audience as doctors, nurses, clergy, and family members of dying patients. Because of the intended audience, the book is written on a more emotional level, citing examples of both positive and negative death experiences. There are no detailed descriptions of what happens to the body as it dies, only discussions of how the dying person might feel and how they might want to experience their final moments of life. Sherwin Nuland takes a much more scientific approach with his book “How We Die.” In chapter seven, Accidents, Suicide, and Euthanasia, Nuland describes in great detail the pathophysiology of why a person dies of sepsis and lung infection. His book is aimed more at healthcare professionals who are familiar with long discussions about the pathophysiology of a given disease process. Each author's choice of target audience is related to their discussions of who controls the death experience. Kübler-Ross supports the contribution and control of patients and therefore... at the heart of the paper... society yes, but not without controversy. Especially discussions about the patient's right to hasten certain death which may be painful or difficult for the patient. Kübler-Ross advocates a balanced approach to patient care: there is attention to the scientific side of healthcare as well as the patient's emotional needs, and the patient is allowed to be in control. Nuland advocates a more scientific approach to patient care: death is viewed on a more realistic and scientific level and while the patient's emotional needs are taken into account, the doctor retains the right to decide whether the patient is mentally fit enough to make all final decisions .Works CitedKubler-Ross, Elisabeth. On death and dying. New York: Scribner, 1969. 15-23. Print.Nuland, Sherwin. How We Die: Reflections on Life's Final Chapter. New York: Vintage Books, 1993. 140-63. Press.