End-of-life decisions in cancer care.
End-of-life decisions in critically ill patients with cancer are often complex and fraught with emotion. End-of-life care involves a multidisciplinary approach that takes into account the patient and family's desires and the goals of therapy. Decisions regarding the use of life-support technology at the end of life encompass an outcomes and goal-oriented approach. Ethical, medical, legal, and economic issues should be considered in the assessment of life-support technologies and directives for their appropriate use in the ICU.
Price
K J
KJ
Department of Critical Care, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA. kjprice@mdanderson.org
Kish
S K
SK
D003657:Decision Making; D026690:Ethics, Clinical; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000592:standards; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000592:standards*