文章通过多位医生的个人经历探讨了该群体在面对自身或亲友的终末期疾病时，往往倾向于放弃激进治疗而转向安宁疗护的现象 [1]。尽管医疗系统因对诉讼风险的担忧以及按服务收费模式所鼓励的过度干预存在，医生们普遍深知无效治疗的痛苦与局限，因此更致力于维护生命最后阶段的质量与尊严 [1]。
一位骨科医生在确诊胰腺癌后拒绝接受化疗和手术，选择在家安宁离世，这一过程未产生高额医疗费用 [1]。另一位医生的表弟在被诊断出肺癌后放弃每周多次的化疗，仅服用少量药物，在保持高质量生活的状态下多活了八个月，相关医疗费用约为 20 美元 [1]。
医生群体常认为心肺复苏（CPR）对重症患者的成功率极低且伴随巨大痛苦，将其视为“徒劳的护理”[1]。过度医疗的主要驱动因素包括家属因缺乏相关知识而要求“全力抢救”，以及上述提到的诉讼风险和按服务收费的经济激励 [1]。相比之下，专注于舒适与尊严的安宁疗护（Hospice care）研究显示，其患者的生存期有时甚至长于寻求积极治愈的患者 [1]。
Medical professionals often choose palliative care over aggressive treatment for themselves or their loved ones during end-stage illness, prioritizing quality and dignity despite a healthcare system that encourages intervention through fear of litigation and fee-for-service models [1]. This preference stems from an understanding within the medical community regarding the limitations and suffering associated with futile interventions. For instance, one orthopedic surgeon diagnosed with pancreatic cancer refused chemotherapy and surgery, opting to pass away at home without incurring high medical costs [1]. Similarly, a doctor's cousin who was diagnosed with lung cancer abandoned weekly chemotherapy sessions for minimal medication; this approach allowed him to live an additional eight months while maintaining a high quality of life, resulting in total medical expenses of only about $20 [1].
The decision against aggressive measures is frequently driven by the recognition that cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has extremely low success rates for critically ill patients and causes significant pain, often described as "futile care" [1]. However, several factors drive overmedicalization: family members may demand full rescue efforts due to a lack of knowledge, physicians fear legal repercussions from lawsuits, and the economic structure rewards volume of services rather than patient outcomes [1]. Research indicates that patients receiving hospice care focused on comfort often experience survival periods equal to or longer than those seeking active curative treatment [1].