Distinguishing between life-saving and life-sustaining treatments: when the physician and spouse disagree.

There is a fine distinction between life-saving measures and life-sustaining ones. In the case presented below the husband of a wife with cancer did not understand the continuation of life-sustaining treatment after the decision to reject life-saving measures was made. This resulted in a conflict between the husband and physician that placed the nurse, as family advocate, in the middle. The case is followed by an analysis with recommendations on how to handle this type of situation.