led to less of a patriarchal culture in medicine. Mostly this is a good thing but where docs used to say "this is what we are going to do or not do" now everything is a discussion with patients or family members more involved in decisions regarding care. They make those decisions without the understanding of futility that the doctors have and/or often with an expectation of a miracle if they just hang on a little longer and have enough faith.

I'm sure there are other factors. The fear of being sued for not doing everything possible despite the family's wishes is still there but I don't think that is new.