End-of-Life Decisions (ELDs) among Oncology Patients in Medical Practice: Incidence and Characteristics of ELDs and Attitudes of Oncologists in Europe.

Advances in medical technology and emphasis in modern society on patient autonomy have, among other factors, increased the scientific debate on the role of medicine at the end of life. Previous research had shown that medical end-of-life decisions are taken most frequently in cancer patients and that physicians take different decisions at the end of life of cancer patients.
In this project, the incidence, characteristics and attitudes concerning end-of-life decision-making among oncology patients will be assessed in two surveys based on the database of the European 5the framework project 'End-of-Life Decisions' (QLRT-1999-30859). The first involves the decision making that preceded a random sample of cancer deaths in six European countries, the secon involves experiences and attitudes of a random sample of oncologists in the same countries. The results of these participating countries will be compared.