Most doctors wouldn't want intensive care at the end of life

Most doctors would not want high-intensity treatment near the end of life, according to a new study from Stanford University School of Medicine. In 2013, researchers surveyed nearly 1,100 young doctors who were finishing their training in a variety of medical specialties. Nearly nine in 10 said they would choose a do-not-resuscitate status near the end of life. "We see too much in our practice and training when high-intensity treatments actually hurt patients," says Vyjeyanthi Periyakoil, a geriatrician who led the study. She says she isn't surprised most physicians opt to die gently, as they recognize "tipping points" when treatments become ineffective.