Inappropriate medication use and polypharmacy in end-stage cancer patients: Isn't it the family doctor's role to de-prescribe much earlier?

Background: Elderly patients are exposed to increased number of medications, often with no proof of a positive benefit/risk ratio. Unfortunately, this trend does not spare those with limited life expectancy, including end-stage cancer patients who require only palliative treatment. For many medications in this subpopulation, the risk of adverse drug events outweighs the possible benefits and yet, many are still poly-medicated during their last year of life.