Ethical considerations about emergent surgical hospitalizations in patients with advanced cancer

Abstract

Unexpected, emergent surgical hospitalizations are common among patients with advanced cancer near end of life and pose an ethical challenge for acute care clinicians, including hospitalists, oncologists, and proceduralists. Referring to the principles of autonomy, beneficence, and nonmaleficence can guide clinicians to provide goal‐concordant care during an acute hospitalization that maximizes patient outcomes without prolonging suffering during the dying process.