[Death assistance and terminal care--at the hospital]

Euthanasia, i.e. active termination of life in a seriously ill patient, is not performed in Norway at present. Between active and so-called passive euthanasia there is a "grey zone", and it is discussed where the border should be drawn, how and by whom. The decision to treat or not is becoming increasingly difficult, due to technical advances in the development of life-supporting devices. There is increasing sympathy for the view that it is not the duty of the medical profession to prolong the life of patients under all circumstances. The present paper discusses such problems in relation to hospitalized patients in an acute life-threatening situation, and in patients with, known, chronic disabling, or malignant disease.