A movement supporting an individual’s right to be allowed to die without the use of “heroic measures”.
Death that is allowed to occur in accordance with the wishes of a patient. An individual may choose to withdraw from chronic medical therapies (e.g., when there is little expectation of cure). Patients who choose death rather than active treatment often have advanced malignancies, poor performance status, major depression, poor social support, or a desire for a palliative approach to end-of-life care.