Ethical decisions at the end of life

A conference organised by Dr Gillian Ford, on behalf of the College Ethical and Palliative Medicine Committees, was held at the Royal College of Physicians of London on 24 March 1999. It attracted over 200 delegates, two-thirds of whom were doctors. Issues covered included hydration and dehydration in the dying patient, talking to patients and their families, the management of futility, caring for patients at home, listening to children, the limits of autonomy and a debate on the principle of 'double effect'.