The right to die as an ethical dilemma for new physicians in Hawaii.

Abstract

In the Cruzan case, the U.S. Supreme Court acknowledged the patient's right to refuse treatment but limited the decision-making involvement of the family when the patient's wishes are unknown. A study of 118 graduating physicians at the John A. Burns School of Medicine revealed their most significant clinical experience involving an ethical dilemma during their 3rd and 4th years was their involvement with families in the decision to discontinue treatment for terminal patients. These findings underscore the need for a focus on this issue in the curriculum.