title: Clinical decisions to limit treatment.
abstract: A case of a patient with gastrointestinal hemorrhage raises the question of limiting medical treatment. We analyze four reasons to limit treatment: Treatment is futile, the patient refuses treatment, the costs of treatment seem excessive, and the quality of life is judged unacceptable. For cases in which treatment is to be limited, we offer practical suggestions for compassionate and appropriate terminal care.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003657:Decision Making; D005065:Euthanasia; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D040841:Resource Allocation; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000191:economics; D028761:Withholding Treatment