[Ethical and clinical decisions in a terminally ill cancer patient with metastatic cancer. The problem of euthanasia]

The easiness of medical technology to prolong life in patients with severe cognitive or biological deterioration, the existence of cultural tendencies that underscore the importance of patient's self determination and economical considerations have posed the problem of euthanasia among patients, their families, society and medical teams. A propos of an exemplary patient, the ethical principles that allow the distinction between passive euthanasia and withdrawal of life support measures are analyzed. The analysis of active euthanasia, leads to the conclusion that it is not compatible with the ethical principles that classically have inspired medical actions.