End-of-life decisions in cancer care

Newer, more sophisticated treatment modalities have resulted in increased s urvival for many cancer patients. Unfortunately, many of these therapies re sult in serious, life-threatening complications. Decisions to admit cancer patients to the intensive care unit for life sustaining therapy are often d ifficult and emotionally charged. Because of the high mortality rate among critically ill cancer patients, end of life care is frequently managed in t he critical care setting. This article focuses on the ethical, medical, leg al, and economic issues surrounding end of life decisions for critically il l patients.