Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Psychosurgery

Psychosurgery

Psychosurgery, the surgical alteration or permanent removal of brain tissue to alleviate severe psychological conditions, stands as one of the most radical and controversial treatments in the history of mental health care. Its development and application have evolved significantly, marked by dramatic shifts in scientific understanding and ethical perspectives.
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

The effect of intraoperative dexamethasone on glycaemic responses in people with diabetes mellitus: a preplanned analysis of the Perioperative ADministration of Dexamethasone and Infection trial.

British journal of anaesthesia·2026

Same author

To Do or Not to Do: Decompressive Craniectomy for Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Asian journal of neurosurgery·2026

Same author

Single-stage craniectomy and custom titanium cranioplasty for intradiploic arachnoid cyst: illustrative case.

Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons·2025

Same author

Acoustic Shadowing to Facilitate Ultrasound Guided Arterial Cannulation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Indian journal of critical care medicine : peer-reviewed, official publication of Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine·2024

Same author

Metastatic intradural primary spinal osteosarcoma: illustrative case.

Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons·2024

Same author

Symptoms Associated With Exercise Intolerance and Resting Heart Rate Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

The Journal of head trauma rehabilitation·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Published on: August 12, 2019

Futility in neurosurgery: a patient-centered approach.

Stephen Honeybul¹, Grant R Gillett, Kwok Ho

¹*Department of Neurosurgery, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; ‡Dunedin Hospital and Otago Bioethics Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; §Department of Intensive Care Medicine and School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

|June 13, 2013

Summary

Futility in severe traumatic brain injury is complex. A patient-centered approach, considering substantial benefit and risks, is crucial for ethical decision-making in neurosurgery.

More Related Videos

Pioneering Patient-Specific Approaches for Precision Surgery Using Imaging and Virtual Reality

Pioneering Patient-Specific Approaches for Precision Surgery Using Imaging and Virtual Reality

Published on: April 5, 2024

Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus

Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus

Published on: October 14, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 10, 2026

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Published on: August 12, 2019

Pioneering Patient-Specific Approaches for Precision Surgery Using Imaging and Virtual Reality

Pioneering Patient-Specific Approaches for Precision Surgery Using Imaging and Virtual Reality

Published on: April 5, 2024

Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus

Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus

Published on: October 14, 2022

Area of Science:

Neurosurgery
Medical Ethics

Background:

The concept of clinical futility is debated, requiring clarification on intervention outcomes and probabilities.
Patient autonomy necessitates that intervention outcomes are acceptable to the individual, especially in severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI).

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the concept of futility in severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) using ethical principles.
To propose a pragmatic, patient-centered approach to managing futility in sTBI, informed by neurosurgical advancements.

Main Methods:

Ethical analysis using concepts like 'substantial benefit' and 'risk of unbearable badness'.
Integration of recent advances in neurosurgical science related to severe traumatic brain injury outcomes.

Main Results:

Futility assessment requires careful consideration of likely outcomes and their probabilities.
Patient-centered evaluation of outcomes is paramount, especially when interventions like decompressive craniectomy may lead to unacceptable states.

Conclusions:

A pragmatic, patient-centered approach is proposed for addressing futility in severe traumatic brain injury.
Balancing patient autonomy with medical necessity is key in determining the ethical application of interventions.