The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 120 Wall St., 22nd floor, New York, N.Y. 10005. Provides policy statement arguing against physician-assisted suicide, as well as referrals for crisis intervention and survivors' support groups. (212) 363-3500 (Referral service: 1-888-333-AFSP)
http://www.afsp.org

Choice in Dying, 200 Varick St., 10th floor, New York, N.Y. 10014-4810. Provides information on end-of-life decisions and living wills; takes neutral stance on the question of assisted suicide. (800) 989-WILL.
http://www.choices.org

Compassion in Dying, P.O. Box 75295, Seattle, Wash. 98125. Provides information, counseling and emotional support to terminally ill patients; favors legalization of physician-assisted suicide. (206) 624-2775
http://www.compassionindying.org

The Greater Boston Hemlock Society, 81 Kilburn Rd., Belmont, Mass. 02178. Provides advocacy and counseling on end-of-life issues. Nancy Dorfman. (617) 489-1452.

The Hemlock Society USA, P.O. Box 10180, Denver, Colo. 80250. Provides information, counseling, newsletters, books and a model "letter to my physician" seeking help in dying. Favors legalizing physician aid in dying. (800) 247-7421.
http://www.hemlock.org/hemlock

The National Hospice Organization, 1901 N. Moore St., Suite 901, Arlington, Va. 22209 Answers general questions about hospice care and provides information about local hospice organizations. (800) 658-8898. http://www.nho.org

The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association, 21021 Ventura Blvd., Suite 321, Woodland Hills, Calif. 91364. This national organization provides support and information. (818) 340-7500.
http://www.alsa.org

The Rhode Island Chapter of the ALS Association, 2845 Post Rd., Warwick, R.I. 02886. Helps people live with ALS. (401) 732-1609.

Death and Dignity: Making Choices and Taking Charge, by Dr. Timothy E. Quill; W.W. Norton, 1993. Argues for assisted suicide as a humane alternative for certain dying patients.

The Hospice Handbook, by Larry Beresford; Little, Brown, 1993. Describes the hospice philosophy and explores the practical and emotional issues in seeking hospice care.

How We Die: Reflections on Life's Final Chapter, by Dr. Sherwin B. Nuland; Knopf, 1994. Details the "clinical reality" of how death occurs, showing that rarely is there any dignity in death.

On Death and Dying, by Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross; Macmillan, 1969. This seminal work on caring for dying people outlines the five emotional stages that the dying go through.

Seduced by Death: Doctors, Patients and the Dutch Cure, by Dr. Herbert Hendin; W.W. Norton, 1997. Examines the experience with euthanasia and assisted suicide in the Netherlands, and argues against allowing them here.