This paper aims to examine the new code of medical ethics by addressing three themes in particular: information transmission from doctors to patients regarding their diagnosis and possible therapeutic options; doctors' acceptance of their patients' decisions; and terminal and irreversible clinical cases, where doctors are advised to avoid unnecessary diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, providing only appropriate palliative care to patients under their responsibility. The paper will also analyze the changes that have occurred in Brazil during the last few decades regarding the forms of communication between doctors, patients and families on diagnosis and prognosis. Patient and family options are discussed, as well as doctors' strategies of concealment, omission and/or lies based on a specific bibliography concerning this topic. The terms orthotanasia, dysthanasia and euthanasia, although not mentioned in the new code of medical ethics, are emphasized based upon recommended palliative care for irreversible or terminal cases. Lastly, strategies are discussed with regards to the interaction between doctors, patients and families, which are intrinsically linked to power relations.
doctor; decision-making; palliative care; health; medical ethics