Ethics and oncology: new issues of therapy, care, and research

The advances in oncological therapy as well as the knowledge of the limitations to what is possible pose major ethical challenges for doctors, nurses and patients: The possibilities for treatment in oncology are expanding continuously. As a result patients are involved with increasingly complex treatment decisions, including end of life decisions. As a consequence doctors must inform their patients adequately, deliver difficult news and advise patients and their relatives on treatment goals and changes thereto, e. g. when changing from curative to palliative care. This interdisciplinary conference with experts from a wide range of fields provides an opportunity to initiate and deepen the discussion of the above-mentioned issues.