Ethnic and cultural challenges at the end of life: setting the scene.

Patients with advanced kidney disease come from diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. This potentially causes conflict when considering end-of-life management for patients from minority ethnic groups in a Western healthcare system that is dominated by the principles of patient autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and avoiding futile care. This article explores the impact of religion and culture on truth telling and futile care at end of life.