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Futility, autonomy, and informed consent.

J M Trau

    Health Progress (Saint Louis, Mo.)
    |February 7, 1994
    PubMed
    Summary

    Clinicians should not offer medically futile treatments, as this can undermine informed consent and patient well-being. Withholding futile care respects patient autonomy by focusing on realistic goals and avoiding unnecessary burdens.

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    Health progress (Saint Louis, Mo.)ยท1993
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    Area of Science:

    • Medical Ethics
    • Clinical Decision-Making
    • Patient Autonomy

    Background:

    • The concept of medical futility raises ethical questions regarding disclosure to patients.
    • Informed consent principles are challenged when treatments lack genuine therapeutic benefit.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To explore the ethical implications of discussing medically futile treatments with patients.
    • To examine whether withholding futile treatment violates informed consent.

    Main Methods:

    • Ethical analysis of medical futility and informed consent.
    • Review of patient best interest, considering short-term and long-term benefits.
    • Discussion of the role of flourishing in medical goals.

    Main Results:

    • Treatments offering survival without flourishing are considered medically futile.
    • Withholding futile treatment is ethically justifiable, aligning with paternalistic care focused on patient well-being.
    • Honoring requests for futile treatment misinterprets patient autonomy.

    Conclusions:

    • Informed consent requires balancing clinical reasonableness and patient desires.
    • Omission of futile treatment options is a logical and ethical practice.
    • Rational medicine prioritizes realistic therapeutic goals and patient flourishing.
    Keywords:
    Death and EuthanasiaProfessional Patient Relationship

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