"We don't do that in palliative care"

Five situations have been presented to consider whether there are interventions which are "not done in palliative care". No attempt was made to cover all possible circumstances. The only limits which emerged are (a) an absolute limitation on criminal action and (b) a relative limitation on non-beneficial treatment. Determination of what is non-beneficial is subject to various considerations: firstly, not recommending non-beneficial interventions; secondly, giving special allowance for experimental interventions in properly conducted trials; and, thirdly, accepting the patient's right to gamble on a trial of therapy.