The Yale journal of biology and medicine
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A vast literature exists on the ethical aspects of decisions to limit life-sustaining treatments, and much of it deals with the way decisions ought to be made. Little is known, however, about how decisions are made in actual clinical practice. ⋯ Three practice domains are identified: assisting patients to reach a truly autonomous choice, helping families to understand and to cope with the realities of the situation, and communicating with and encouraging open communication among all those involved. In addition, the potential value of the in-between position of the nurse is noted, and nurse responsibilities are summarized.