[Euthanasia--limits of therapy in oncology]

Nowadays progress in medicine keeps human beings alive more frequently in hopeless and depressing situations associated with physical discomfort and pain for a long time. This situation, which is at least partly caused by medical treatment, should be generally reviewed, in particular with respect to the treatment of cancer patients. This principles of action or non-action should be re-examined at intervals retrospectively and continuously adapted to new developments.