Timothy E. Quill, M.D. is a Professor of Medicine, Psychiatry, and Medical Humanities at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He is also the Director of the Center for Ethics, Humanities and Palliative Care and a Board certified palliative care consultant in Rochester, New York.

Dr. Quill has published and lectured widely about various aspects of the doctor-patient relationship, with special focus on end-of-life decision making, including delivering bad news, nonabandonment, discussing palliative care earlier, and exploring last-resort options. He is the author of several books on end-of life, including Physician-Assisted Dying: The Case for Palliative Care and Patient Choice (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004), Caring for Patients at the End of Life: Facing an Uncertain Future Together (Oxford University Press, 2001), and A Midwife Through the Dying Process: Stories of Healing and Hard Choices at the End of Life (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996), and numerous articles published in major medical journals including "Death and Dignity: A Case of Individualized Decision Making" published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Quill was the lead physician plaintiff in the New York State legal case challenging the law prohibiting physician-assisted death that was heard in 1997 by the U.S. Supreme Court (Quill v. Vacco).

Dr. Quill received his undergraduate degree from Amherst College (1971), and his M.D. from the University of Rochester (1976). He completed his Internal Medicine residency in 1979 and a Fellowship in Medicine/Psychiatry Liaison in 1981, both from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Quill is a Fellow in the American College of Physicians, an ABMS certified Palliative Care consultant, a board member of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and a founding board member of American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

• Quill TE, Abernethy AP. Generalist plus specialist palliative care--creating a more sustainable model. N Engl J Med. 2013 Mar 28; 368(13):1173-5.
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• Shayne M, Quill TE. Oncologists responding to grief: comment on "nature and impact of grief over patient loss on oncologists' personal and professional lives"oncologists responding to grief. Arch Intern Med. 2012 Jun 25; 172(12):966-7.
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• Beckman HB, Wendland M, Mooney C, Krasner MS, Quill TE, Suchman AL, Epstein RM. The impact of a program in mindful communication on primary care physicians. Acad Med. 2012 Jun; 87(6):815-9.
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• Gramling R, Norton SA, Ladwig S, Metzger M, Deluca J, Gramling D, Schatz D, Epstein R, Quill T, Alexander S. Direct observation of prognosis communication in palliative care: a descriptive study. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2013 Feb; 45(2):202-12.
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• Quill TE, Holloway RG. Evidence, preferences, recommendations--finding the right balance in patient care. N Engl J Med. 2012 May 3; 366(18):1653-5.
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• Mukamel DB, Caprio T, Ahn R, Zheng NT, Norton S, Quill T, Temkin-Greener H. End-of-Life Quality-of-Care Measures for Nursing Homes: Place of Death and Hospice. J Palliat Med. 2012 Apr; 15(4):438-46.
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• Quill TE. Physicians should "assist in suicide" when it is appropriate. J Law Med Ethics. 2012 Mar; 40(1):57-65.
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• Quill TE, Holloway R. Time-limited trials near the end of life. JAMA. 2011 Oct 5; 306(13):1483-4.
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• Kirschner KL, Kerkhoff TR, Butt L, Yamada R, Battaglia CC, Wu J, Quill TE, Didde E, Bahr E. 'I don't want to live this way, doc. Please take me off the ventilator and let me die.'. PM R. 2011 Oct; 3(10):968-75.
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• Norton SA, Powers BA, Schmitt MH, Metzger M, Fairbanks E, Deluca J, Quill TE. Navigating tensions: integrating palliative care consultation services into an academic medical center setting. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2011 Nov; 42(5):680-90.
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• Powers BA, Norton SA, Schmitt MH, Quill TE, Metzger M. Meaning and practice of palliative care for hospitalized older adults with life limiting illnesses. J Aging Res. 2011; 2011:406164.
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• Shaban E, Guerry R, Quill TE. Reconciling physician bias and recommendations: comment on "Physicians recommend different treatments for patients than they would choose for themselves". Arch Intern Med. 2011 Apr 11; 171(7):634-5.
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• Olden AM, Holloway R, Ladwig S, Quill TE, van Wijngaarden E. Palliative care needs and symptom patterns of hospitalized elders referred for consultation. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2011 Sep; 42(3):410-8.
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• Hauer J, Quill T. Educational needs assessment, development of learning objectives, and choosing a teaching approach. J Palliat Med. 2011 Apr; 14(4):503-8.
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• Morrison RS, Dietrich J, Ladwig S, Quill T, Sacco J, Tangeman J, Meier DE. Palliative care consultation teams cut hospital costs for Medicaid beneficiaries. Health Aff (Millwood). 2011 Mar; 30(3):454-63.
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• Holloway RG, Quill TE. Treatment decisions after brain injury--tensions among quality, preference, and cost. N Engl J Med. 2010 May 13; 362(19):1757-9.
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• Weissman DE, Quill TE, Block SD. Missed opportunities in medical student education. J Palliat Med. 2010 May; 13(5):489-90.
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• Holloway RG, Ladwig S, Robb J, Kelly A, Nielsen E, Quill TE. Palliative care consultations in hospitalized stroke patients. J Palliat Med. 2010 Apr; 13(4):407-12.
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• Weissman DE, Quill TE, Arnold RM. The family meeting: end-of-life goal setting and future planning #227. J Palliat Med. 2010 Apr; 13(4):462-3.
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• Weissman DE, Quill TE, Arnold RM. Helping surrogates make decisions #226. J Palliat Med. 2010 Apr; 13(4):461-2.
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• Weissman DE, Quill TE, Arnold RM. The family meeting: causes of conflict #225. J Palliat Med. 2010 Mar; 13(3):328-9.
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• Weissman DE, Quill TE, Arnold RM. Responding to emotion in family meetings #224. J Palliat Med. 2010 Mar; 13(3):327-8.
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• Epstein RM, Korones DN, Quill TE. Withholding information from patients--when less is more. N Engl J Med. 2010 Feb 4; 362(5):380-1.
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• Weissman DE, Quill TE, Arnold RM. The family meeting: starting the conversation #223. J Palliat Med. 2010 Feb; 13(2):204-5.
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• Weissman DE, Quill TE, Arnold RM. Preparing for the family meeting #222. J Palliat Med. 2010 Feb; 13(2):203-4.
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• Krasner MS, Epstein RM, Beckman H, Suchman AL, Chapman B, Mooney CJ, Quill TE. Association of an educational program in mindful communication with burnout, empathy, and attitudes among primary care physicians. JAMA. 2009 Sep 23; 302(12):1284-93.
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• Quill TE, Lo B, Brock DW, Meisel A. Last-resort options for palliative sedation. Ann Intern Med. 2009 Sep 15; 151(6):421-4.
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• Quill TE, Arnold R, Back AL. Discussing treatment preferences with patients who want "everything". Ann Intern Med. 2009 Sep 1; 151(5):345-9.
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• Temkin-Greener H, Zheng NT, Norton SA, Quill T, Ladwig S, Veazie P. Measuring end-of-life care processes in nursing homes. Gerontologist. 2009 Dec; 49(6):803-15.
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• Wilkins VM, Quill TE, King DA. Assessing families in palliative care: a pilot study of the checklist of family relational abilities. J Palliat Med. 2009 Jun; 12(6):517-9.
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• Olden AM, Quill TE, Bordley D, Ladwig S. Evaluation of a required palliative care rotation for internal medicine residents. J Palliat Med. 2009 Feb; 12(2):150-4.
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• Quill T, Arnold RM. Responding to a request for hastening death #159. J Palliat Med. 2008 Oct; 11(8):1152-3.
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• Quill T, Arnold RM. Evaluating requests for hastened death #156. J Palliat Med. 2008 Oct; 11(8):1151-2.
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• Quill TE. Physician-assisted death in the United States: are the existing "last resorts" enough? Hastings Cent Rep. 2008 Sep-Oct; 38(5):17-22.
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• Quill TE. Suicidal thoughts and actions in cancer patients: the time for exploration is now. J Clin Oncol. 2008 Oct 10; 26(29):4705-7.
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• Goodlin SJ, Quill TE, Arnold RM. Communication and decision-making about prognosis in heart failure care. J Card Fail. 2008 Mar; 14(2):106-13.
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• Shah M, Quill T, Norton S, Sada Y, Buckley M, Fridd C. "What bothers you the most?" Initial responses from patients receiving palliative care consultation. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2008 Apr-May; 25(2):88-92.
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• Childers JW, Demme R, Greenlaw J, King DA, Quill T. A qualitative report of dual palliative care/ethics consultations: intersecting dilemmas and paradigmatic cases. J Clin Ethics. 2008; 19(3):204-13.
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• Quill TE. Physician assisted death in vulnerable populations. BMJ. 2007 Sep 29; 335(7621):625-6.
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• Holloway RG, Quill TE. Mortality as a measure of quality: implications for palliative and end-of-life care. JAMA. 2007 Aug 15; 298(7):802-4.
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• Norton SA, Hogan LA, Holloway RG, Temkin-Greener H, Buckley MJ, Quill TE. Proactive palliative care in the medical intensive care unit: effects on length of stay for selected high-risk patients. Crit Care Med. 2007 Jun; 35(6):1530-5.
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• Sawaya GF, Smith-McCune K. HPV vaccination--more answers, more questions. N Engl J Med. 2007 May 10; 356(19):1991-3.
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• Quill TE. Legal regulation of physician-assisted death--the latest report cards. N Engl J Med. 2007 May 10; 356(19):1911-3.
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• Quill TE. Is length of stay on hospice a critical quality of care indicator? J Palliat Med. 2007 Apr; 10(2):290-2.
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• Casarett DJ, Quill TE. "I'm not ready for hospice": strategies for timely and effective hospice discussions. Ann Intern Med. 2007 Mar 20; 146(6):443-9.
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• Sweeney MO, Quill TE. Clustering of sudden death and aborted cardiac arrest associated with a family grief reaction. Heart Rhythm. 2007 Jul; 4(7):952-5.
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• Quill TE. Myths and Misconceptions about Palliative Sedation. Virtual Mentor. 2006; 8(9):577-81.
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• Kinsella JP, Cutter GR, Walsh WF, Gerstmann DR, Bose CL, Hart C, Sekar KC, Auten RL, Bhutani VK, Gerdes JS, George TN, Southgate WM, Carriedo H, Couser RJ, Mammel MC, Hall DC, Pappagallo M, Sardesai S, Strain JD, Baier M, Abman SH. Early inhaled nitric oxide therapy in premature newborns with respiratory failure. N Engl J Med. 2006 Jul 27; 355(4):354-64.
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• O'Connor AB, Lang VJ, Quill TE. Underdosing of morphine in comparison with other parenteral opioids in an acute hospital: a quality of care challenge. Pain Med. 2006 Jul-Aug; 7(4):299-307.
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• King DA, Quill T. Working with families in palliative care: one size does not fit all. J Palliat Med. 2006 Jun; 9(3):704-15.
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• Quill T, Norton S, Shah M, Lam Y, Fridd C, Buckley M. What is most important for you to achieve?: an analysis of patient responses when receiving palliative care consultation. J Palliat Med. 2006 Apr; 9(2):382-8.
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• Demme RA, Singer EA, Greenlaw J, Quill TE. Ethical issues in palliative care. Anesthesiol Clin. 2006 Mar; 24(1):129-44.
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• Quill TE, Meier DE. The big chill--inserting the DEA into end-of-life care. N Engl J Med. 2006 Jan 5; 354(1):1-3.
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• Quill T, Kimsma GK. How much suffering is enough? Med Ethics (Burlingt Mass). 2006; 13(2):10-1.
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• O'Connor AB, Lang VJ, Quill TE. Eliminating analgesic meperidine use with a supported formulary restriction. Am J Med. 2005 Aug; 118(8):885-9.
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• Quill TE. The million dollar question. N Engl J Med. 2005 Apr 21; 352(16):1632.
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• Quill TE. Terri Schiavo--a tragedy compounded. N Engl J Med. 2005 Apr 21; 352(16):1630-3.
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• Medina-Walpole A, Heppard B, Clark NS, Markakis K, Tripler S, Quill T. Mi Casa o Su Casa? Assessing function and values in the home. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005 Feb; 53(2):336-42.
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• Lang F, Quill T. Making decisions with families at the end of life. Am Fam Physician. 2004 Aug 15; 70(4):719-23.
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• Quill TE. Opening the black box: physicians' inner responses to patients' requests for physician-assisted death. J Palliat Med. 2004 Jun; 7(3):469-71.
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• Epstein RM, Alper BS, Quill TE. Communicating evidence for participatory decision making. JAMA. 2004 May 19; 291(19):2359-66.
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• Quill TE. Dying and decision making--evolution of end-of-life options. N Engl J Med. 2004 May 13; 350(20):2029-32.
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• Williams GC, Quill TE. Physician autonomy, paternalism, and professionalism: finding our voice amid conflicting duties. Virtual Mentor. 2004; 6(2).
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• Norton SA, Quill TE. Complex questions embedded in tracheotomy decisions. Head Neck. 2004 Jan; 26(1):75-6.
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• Carlson AE, Westenbroek RE, Quill T, Ren D, Clapham DE, Hille B, Garbers DL, Babcock DF. CatSper1 required for evoked Ca2+ entry and control of flagellar function in sperm. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Dec 9; 100(25):14864-8.
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• Quill TE, Dannefer E, Markakis K, Epstein R, Greenlaw J, McGrail K, Milella M. An integrated biopsychosocial approach to palliative care training of medical students. J Palliat Med. 2003 Jun; 6(3):365-80.
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• Back AL, Arnold RM, Quill TE. Hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. Ann Intern Med. 2003 Mar 4; 138(5):439-43.
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• Quill TE, Cassel CK. Professional organizations' position statements on physician-assisted suicide: a case for studied neutrality. Ann Intern Med. 2003 Feb 4; 138(3):208-11.
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• Quill TE. Careful conversation about care at the end of life. Ann Intern Med. 2002 Dec 17; 137(12):1008-10; author reply 1008-10.
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• Lo B, Ruston D, Kates LW, Arnold RM, Cohen CB, Faber-Langendoen K, Pantilat SZ, Puchalski CM, Quill TR, Rabow MW, Schreiber S, Sulmasy DP, Tulsky JA. Discussing religious and spiritual issues at the end of life: a practical guide for physicians. JAMA. 2002 Feb 13; 287(6):749-54.
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• Quill TE. In-hospital end-of-life services: is the cup 2/3 empty or 1/3 full? Med Care. 2002 Jan; 40(1):4-6.
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• Quill TE. Perspectives on care at the close of life. Initiating end-of-life discussions with seriously ill patients: addressing the "elephant in the room". JAMA. 2000 Nov 15; 284(19):2502-7.
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• Quill TE, Lee BC, Nunn S. Palliative treatments of last resort: choosing the least harmful alternative. University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics Assisted Suicide Consensus Panel. Ann Intern Med. 2000 Mar 21; 132(6):488-93.
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• Quill TE. Same old seventeen-dollar lamps. Ann Intern Med. 1999 Jun 15; 130(12):1022-4.
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• Karlawish JH, Quill T, Meier DE. A consensus-based approach to providing palliative care to patients who lack decision-making capacity. ACP-ASIM End-of-Life Care Consensus Panel. American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine. Ann Intern Med. 1999 May 18; 130(10):835-40.
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• Lo B, Quill T, Tulsky J. Discussing palliative care with patients. ACP-ASIM End-of-Life Care Consensus Panel. American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine. Ann Intern Med. 1999 May 4; 130(9):744-9.
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• Barnard D, Quill T, Hafferty FW, Arnold R, Plumb J, Bulger R, Field M. Preparing the ground: contributions of the preclinical years to medical education for care near the end of life. Working Group on the Pre-clinical Years of the National Consensus Conference on Medical Education for Care Near the End of Life. Acad Med. 1999 May; 74(5):499-505.
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• Epstein RM, Quill TE, McWhinney IR. Somatization reconsidered: incorporating the patient's experience of illness. Arch Intern Med. 1999 Feb 8; 159(3):215-22.
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• Meier DE, Emmons CA, Wallenstein S, Quill T, Morrison RS, Cassel CK. A national survey of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in the United States. N Engl J Med. 1998 Apr 23; 338(17):1193-201.
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• Quill TE, Meier DE, Block SD, Billings JA. The debate over physician-assisted suicide: empirical data and convergent views. Ann Intern Med. 1998 Apr 1; 128(7):552-8.
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• Quill TE. Principle of double effect and end-of-life pain management: additional myths and a limited role. J Palliat Med. 1998; 1(4):333-6.
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• Quill TE, Lo B, Brock DW. Palliative options of last resort: a comparison of voluntarily stopping eating and drinking, terminal sedation, physician-assisted suicide, and voluntary active euthanasia. JAMA. 1997 Dec 17; 278(23):2099-104.
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• Quill TE, Dresser R, Brock DW. The rule of double effect--a critique of its role in end-of-life decision making. N Engl J Med. 1997 Dec 11; 337(24):1768-71.
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• Hermann JF, Quill TE, Levy MH. Physician-assisted suicide. A private, professional, and public challenge. Cancer Pract. 1997 May-Jun; 5(3):182-5.
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• Quill TE, Kimsma G. End-of-life care in The Netherlands and the United States: a comparison of values, justifications, and practices. Camb Q Healthc Ethics. 1997; 6(2):189-204.
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• Quill TE, Brody H. Physician recommendations and patient autonomy: finding a balance between physician power and patient choice. Ann Intern Med. 1996 Nov 1; 125(9):763-9.
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• Quill TE, Brody RV. 'You promised me I wouldn't die like this!' A bad death as a medical emergency. Arch Intern Med. 1995 Jun 26; 155(12):1250-4.
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• Quill TE, Cassel CK. Nonabandonment: a central obligation for physicians. Ann Intern Med. 1995 Mar 1; 122(5):368-74.
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• Miller FG, Quill TE, Brody H, Fletcher JC, Gostin LO, Meier DE. Regulating physician-assisted death. N Engl J Med. 1994 Jul 14; 331(2):119-23.
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• Quill TE. Risk taking by physicians in legally gray areas. Albany Law Rev. 1994; 57(3):693-708.
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• Quill TE. Physician-assisted death: progress or peril? Suicide Life Threat Behav. 1994; 24(4):315-25.
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• Quill TE. Exploring human suffering: why the reluctance? Bioethics Forum. 1994; 10(2):3-6.
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• Quill TE. The ambiguity of clinical intentions. N Engl J Med. 1993 Sep 30; 329(14):1039-40.
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• Lloyd T, Andon MB, Rollings N, Martel JK, Landis JR, Demers LM, Eggli DF, Kieselhorst K, Kulin HE. Calcium supplementation and bone mineral density in adolescent girls. JAMA. 1993 Aug 18; 270(7):841-4.
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• Rabinowitz B, Williams G, Quill TE. Somatization. Why can't we see the forest for the trees? Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 1993 Jul; 15(4):208-10.
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• Quill TE, Suchman AL. Uncertainty and control: learning to live with medicine's limitations. Humane Med. 1993 Apr; 9(2):109-20.
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• Quill TE, Cassel CK, Meier DE. Care of the hopelessly ill. Proposed clinical criteria for physician-assisted suicide. N Engl J Med. 1992 Nov 5; 327(19):1380-4.
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• Quill TE, Bennett NM. The effects of a hospital policy and state legislation on resuscitation orders for geriatric patients. Arch Intern Med. 1992 Mar; 152(3):569-72.
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• Williams GC, Quill TE, Deci EL, Ryan RM. "The facts concerning the recent carnival of smoking in Connecticut" and elsewhere. Ann Intern Med. 1991 Jul 1; 115(1):59-63.
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• Quill TE. Death and dignity. A case of individualized decision making. N Engl J Med. 1991 Mar 7; 324(10):691-4.
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• Quill TE, Townsend P. Bad news: delivery, dialogue, and dilemmas. Arch Intern Med. 1991 Mar; 151(3):463-8.
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• Quill TE. Medical resident education. A cross-sectional study of the influence of the ambulatory preceptor as a role model. Arch Intern Med. 1987 May; 147(5):971-3.
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• Quill TE. Somatization disorder. One of medicine's blind spots. JAMA. 1985 Dec 6; 254(21):3075-9.
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• Quill TE, Lipkin M, Lamb GS. Health-care seeking by men in their spouse's pregnancy. Psychosom Med. 1984 May-Jun; 46(3):277-83.
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• Lipkin M, Quill TE, Napodano RJ. The medical interview: a core curriculum for residencies in internal medicine. Ann Intern Med. 1984 Feb; 100(2):277-84.
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• Quill TE. Partnerships in patient care: a contractual approach. Ann Intern Med. 1983 Feb; 98(2):228-34.
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