Ethical issues in the treatment of cancer patients

Nineteen speakers at the International Conference on Supportive Care--More than Medicine, which was cosponsored by WHO and held in Château Montebello, Quebec, Canada, 18-21 July 1988, presented short introductory lectures and led the Ethics Working Group's discussions on the following ethical issues relating to cancer research and the treatment of cancer patients: telling the truth; allowing to die and practice of euthanasia; clinical research; and limited resources leading to hard choices. This article presents the discussions and recommendations of this Working Group.