ABSTRACT
This chapter presents some of the sociocultural features of the Israeli society and how they have influenced the limited responses that Israel has provided to end-of-life care (EOLC)-related problems. EOLC-related problems are illustrated by research results, indicating significant discrepancies between the wishes of elderly persons and the actual practice of physicians. Court rulings take the leading role of expressing and shaping the Israeli society's approach to EOLC. Israel's commitment to the Jewish and democratic systems of values appears in the Declaration of Independence. The State of Israel was established after the holocaust in 1948 as a Jewish and democratic state. In a democratic country, preferences and behaviors of the most involved parties, in this case the public and physicians, have to be considered when trying to address social problems. The chapter concludes with recommendations for substantial changes in approaches, policies, and medical practice.
