Daniel Wikler offers a controversial analysis exploring alternative ways to support the conclusion that PVS patients should not be maintained. He finds the usual ethical justification for withdrawing treatment inadequate. ...

The authors document the first 19 months of a service dedicated to the care of hopelessly ill patients in a teaching hospital. A comprehensive supportive care team (CSCT) was established to ensure a humane, uniform, ...

The scientific basis of treatment decisions is analyzed, using controversies about the treatment of mild hypertension to illustrate both the importance and limitations of using data obtained from clinical trials to guide ...

A physician who describes himself or herself only as a gynecology resident in a large, private hospital writes in

"Wrongful birth" suits are malpractice actions in which parents sue a physician for negligent conduct resulting in the birth of an impaired child. "Wrongful life" suits, which are more controversial, are brought on behalf ...

How are we to decide where our scarce medical resources are most effectively spent? The notion of a quality-adjusted-life-year has been proposed as a way of doing this. Some economists appear to think that this can be ...