Cancer control : journal of the Moffitt Cancer Center
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Physicians who treat patients approaching the end of life often face moral, ethical, and legal issues involving shared decision making, futility, the right to refuse medical treatment, euthanasia, and physician-assisted suicide. ⋯ Legal and ethical issues continue to confront patients, courts, and physicians. A better understanding of these issues and an awareness of the availability of effective palliative care will help physicians, patients, and families adequately address the end-of-life issues that are an intrinsic part of medical care.