Care at the end of life that relieves symptoms and provides comfort but neither hastens nor postpones death. End-of-life care may include a medical decision to withdraw treatment or not to initiate a potentially ineffective treatment. End-of-life care may include stopping delivery of food and fluids by tube. In end-of-life care, medical ethicists think it is acceptable to give high doses of pain medication even if it potentially compromises respiration because the medical intention is clearly to relieve pain rather than to shorten life.
Supportive care for dying patients. Such care can include invasive interventions like advanced cardiac life support, or supportive interventions, like educational, emotional, or social assistance to patients with terminal illnesses.