Every day throughout the U.S., patients and their families must make excruciating medical decisions. A fundamental role of the physician is helping them through this difficult process.

Some choices are painful but easy to make, such as deciding to amputate a gangrenous limb to save a child’s life. Often, however, doctors must present options and make recommendations when there is no “right” answer.

Doctors worry patients can’t face the truth. All too often, however, it’s the physician who struggles to admit there’s little more he or she can accomplish.

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