The most obvious areas we want to examine are those in which there are overt moral controversies: sexual and reproductive health, end-of-life care.

Our study challenges that conventional wisdom.

We found no consensus among physicians about what is customary or appropriate. Despite efforts to standardize many aspects of the doctor-patient relationship, patients are likely to encounter very different approaches.

The close ties between belief and behavior suggests that physicians are unlikely to reach agreement anytime soon about what is suitable.