Cancer--the ethical challenges posed by research and treatment

Ethical considerations arise frequently in managing the patient with cancer. These range from controversy as to whether the diagnosis should be divulged to the patient or only to his family to whether the disease should be treated and, if so what is best for the patient. In many instances clearcut answers are not available--the type of challenge facing the physician who has accepted responsibility for managing the patient with malignant disease is illustrated by consideration of some of the problems encountered in leukaemia.