title: To care but never to prolong?
abstract: What levels of life-prolonging medical interventions, if any, are appropriate for moderately and severely demented older people? This opinion piece includes a recent study of physicians' attitudes, which helps focus the controversy and examine the varied opinions that exist both internationally and within particular countries.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Post
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D001938:Brazil; D002170:Canada; D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy*; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005065:Euthanasia; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012606:Scotland; D013548:Sweden; D014481:United States; D014852:Wales