Physicians need to manage expectations and clearly explain the prognosis of ICU patients to their families, particularly when the outcome is a negative one.

A carefully constructed consent and treatment plan is outlined for a neglected and abused child hospitalized with a severe behavioral disorder.

Physicians should go beyond basic medical diagnosis and treatment to offer support to families about the gamut of social and emotional issues that are involved with caring for a severely disabled child.

Physicians need to understand their roles and limitations of their own faith in providing end-of-life care.

Physicians need to understand their roles and limitations of their own faith in providing end-of-life care.

Physicians need to carefully explain the difficult medical realities of carrying a fetus with severe congenital abnormalities to term but then follow the wishes of a religious family who ask for reasonable medical care.

Physicians need to carefully explain the difficult medical realities of carrying a fetus with severe congenital abnormalities to term but then follow the wishes of a religious family who ask for reasonable medical care.

Physicians need to understand their roles and limitations of their own faith in providing end-of-life care.

Physicians need to understand their roles and limitations of their own faith in providing end-of-life care.

Physicians face ethical dilemmas when patients request medical help in pursuing behavior the physician believes is immoral.