Culture and end-of-life care: an epidemiological evaluation of physicians.

Beneficence is a fundamental concept of medicine, which embodies the notion above all, do no harm. While this principle illustrates the health care professional's duty to contribute to the patient's welfare, the principle becomes convoluted when the wishes of the patient directly conflict with that of the physician. The purpose of the study was to determine the degree to which cultural beliefs influence a physician's decision to introduce the concept of hospice to terminally ill patients. This phenomenological study explored the perceptions of 14 physicians practicing medicine in Mercer County, New Jersey. Analysis of the textural data revealed the following 5 themes: (a) physician personal perspectives, (b) physician perspectives on culture, (c) perspectives on hospice care, (d) communication with patients, and (e) training and experience.