Ethical Issues: The Difficult Family

Abstract

Some of the most difficult situations faced by physicians have been when loving and caring families, often out of guilt or misunderstanding, disagree or become demanding. This challenge intensifies when those demands do not seem to coincide with what seems to be in the best interest of the patient. This is particularly true in end of life care when conflicts between physicians and families often create emotionally difficult and time consuming situations for everyone involved in the care of the patient.