The new research shows gruelling treatments given to people with life-threatening illnesses has no clinical benefit.
Instead, it can actually lead to a worse quality of life, with patients unable to perform many day-to-day functions.
Doctors said courses of treatment given to patients with end-stage cancer, whose tumours had spread to other parts of their bodies, had little or no positive effect.
The study at Weill Cornell Medical College looked at 300 patients in the final stages of the illness with about half receiving chemotherapy and half not.
Receiving the treatment was associated with worse quality of life among those who could still do daily activities like walking and self care.
Chemotherapy had no effect on the quality of life on less-functional patients, who were close to death, according to an article published online by JAMA Oncology.
All patients, who doctors estimated to have a life expectancy to be six months or less, were unresponsive to at least one or multiple rounds of the drugs.
They were assessed on their ability to perform everyday tasks such as walking, light work, and self-care.
About two weeks after the patients died, a family member or other caregiver rated the patient's quality of life during the final week.
The report concluded chemotherapy was of no benefit to patients nearing the end of their life and actually made life worse for those who could still function relatively well.
It recommended the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines be revised to recognise the potential harm of chemotherapy use in patients at this stage in life.
Speaking previously, the Daily Mail's GP, Dr Martin Scurr, admitted he would rather die than receive treatment for a terminal illness.
He claims the vast majority of doctors would not want the care they prescribe for themselves and said it had long been a taboo subject in the medical world.
'Like most doctors, I understand that much of the care we offer patients who have serious, life-threatening illnesses is ultimately futile,' he said.
'Worse, it can involve many months of gruelling treatments that might possibly extend the length of one's life, but do nothing for its quality.'
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