Caring for patients at the end of life is a privilege. Physicians have a responsibility to help patients define their goals for care and to respect patients' preferences.
Caring for patients at the end of life
Code of Medical Ethics Opinions: Caring for patients at the end of life
- Advance care planning: Opinion E-5.1
- Advance directives: Opinion E-5.2
- Withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment: Opinion E-5.3
- Orders not to attempt resuscitation (DNAR): Opinion E-5.4
- Medically ineffective interventions: Opinion E-5.5
- Sedation to unconsciousness in end-of-life care: Opinion E-5.6
- Physician-assisted suicide: Opinion E-5.7
- Euthanasia: Opinion E-5.8
Code of Medical Ethics Opinions: Chapter 5 (PDF)
AMA Code of Medical Ethics
Visit the Code of Medical Ethics page to access additional Opinions, the Principles of Medical Ethics and a list of CME courses that are available.
These Opinions are offered as ethics guidance for physicians and are not intended to establish standards for clinical practice or rules of law.
