Clinical cancer research, DNR orders, and medical economics: a complex interrelationship.
Despite the dramatic success achieved over the past few years in improving the survival of individuals with cancer, treatment for many patients with advanced malignancies remains far from satisfactory. Unfortunately, centers engaged in clinical cancer research are currently faced with the dilemma of dealing with increasingly complex and expensive experimental treatment regimens at the same time funding for such research and patient care is decreasing. A further complicating factor is the high cost of caring for terminally ill patients in cancer centers, particularly those potentially requiring intensive life support. This paper reviews the problems facing both clinical cancer investigators and hospitals involved with cancer research and proposes several suggestions for dealing with these increasingly complex issues.
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000191:economics; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D030881:Disclosure; D028741:Ethics Committees, Clinical; D028744:Ethics Committees, Research; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive / Q000191:economics; D035082:Federal Government; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000191:economics; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D033281:Nontherapeutic Human Experimentation; D012106:Research; D035842:Research Subjects; D040841:Resource Allocation; D012151:Resuscitation; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000191:economics; D036302:Therapeutic Human Experimentation
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents