Includes bibliographical references and index.

Indicated and nonindicated interventions-- Orders not to resuscitation (DNR) -- Legal implications of forgoing treatment -- Determination of death -- Informed consent -- Decisional capacity -- Beliefs due to religious and cultural diversity -- Truthful communication -- Competent refusal of treatment -- Advance planning -- Decision making for the mentally incapacitated patient -- The limits of patient preferences -- Failure to cooperate with medical recommendations -- Alternative medicine -- Enhancing quality of life -- Compromised quality of life and life-sustaining interventions -- Euthanasia and assisted suicide -- Care of the dying patient -- Suicide -- Role of interested parties -- Confidentiality of medical information -- The economics of clinical care -- Allocation of scarce health resources -- Influence of religion on clinical decisions -- The role of the law in clinical decisions -- Clinical research -- Clinical teaching -- Occupational medicine -- Public health -- Ethics committees -- Ethics consultation.