As a matter of medical ethics, physicians must address the health care needs of and be advocates for family caregivers of their patients with dementia.

Physicians new to a case might object to an established care plan. Practice variation, clinical momentum, and how value is assigned by different parties to acute care and comfort measures can each contribute to conflict in these cases.

Physicians must express compassion when discussing risk and success rates of palliative surgery.

Physicians need to help surrogate decision makers to make treatment and end-of-life decisions for those with severe neurological damage by proving a realistic prognosis and maintain strong lines of communication.

A 15-year-old advance directive made when the patient was in much better health and not updated can bring more confusion than clarity to the decision-making process.

A 15-year-old advance directive made when the patient was in much better health and not updated can bring more confusion than clarity to the decision-making process.

Patients with dementia need social supports and opportunities and acceptance of their disability in order to feel hopeful despite their functional decline.

You are not just the rural patient’s doctor, you are the doctor for the football team, a friend, and perhaps a relative; you speak on health at local schools and are expected to attend fundraisers.

Moral distress can be reduced by approaching the patient-physician relationship with empathy and humility, which foster trust and good communication.

An exploration of what could have been done to help the immigrant family of a severely ill child with his care.