Evidence concerning how Japanese physicians think and behave in specific clinical situations …

• Abstract
• Background
• Methods
• Results
• Discussions
• Conclusion
• Appendix
• References
• Figure
• Tables

The study indicated that Japanese physicians tend to harbor greater negative attitudes toward the withdrawal of life-support care than its withholding. On the other hand, they favor withholding invasive life-sustaining treatments such as the attachment of a respirator over less invasive and long-term treatments such as tube feeding. Discrepancies were demonstrated between attitudes and actual behaviors. Physicians may need systematic support for appropriate decision-making for end-of-life care.

Competing interests
The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' contributions
SB: Designing overall research. Completing the survey and analysis

AA: Developing and modifying the survey questions

Sponsor's Role: National governmental funding agency

Acknowledgements
This study has been completed with support by the grant for the health technology assessment research by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. We have not received financial support by specific industry that could cause conflict of interest.