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Futility in evolution.

Kathryn L Moseley1, Maria J Silveira, Susan Dorr Goold

  • 1Bioethics Program, University of Michigan Medical School, 300 North Ingalls Street, 7D20, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0429, USA.

Clinics in Geriatric Medicine
|January 11, 2005
PubMed
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Physicians grapple with defining and applying medical futility in treatment decisions. A patient-centered approach, focusing on goals of care, offers a more morally sound resolution than rigid definitions of futility.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Ethics
  • Clinical Decision-Making
  • Healthcare Policy

Background:

  • The concept of medical futility remains a complex and contentious issue in healthcare.
  • Despite extensive debate, a universally accepted definition of futility is lacking.
  • Physicians often feel they can identify futility but struggle to articulate a precise definition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing definitions of medical futility.
  • To highlight the lack of consensus on the definition and application of futility.
  • To propose a patient-centered definition of futility based on goals of care.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of various definitions of futility.
  • Analysis of the challenges in applying futility concepts in clinical practice.
Keywords:
Analytical ApproachDeath and Euthanasia

Related Experiment Videos

  • Development of a flexible, patient-centered definition.

    • Main Results:

    • Numerous definitions of futility exist, yet consensus remains elusive.
    • The application of futility in clinical decision-making is a significant concern.
    • A patient-centered definition, prioritizing goals of care, is presented as a morally preferable approach.

    Conclusions:

    • The debate over defining futility has not yielded a consensus.
    • A flexible, patient-centered definition of futility is crucial for ethical clinical practice.
    • Relying on the concept of futility to resolve treatment disputes may ultimately be ineffective.