[The concept of futility in medicine]

A 79-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer was incidentally found to have a suspicious lung nodule. Though reluctant to accept treatments with disabling side effects, she was persuaded to undergo biopsy after oncologists stressed the low toxicity and potential benefit of EGFR inhibitors. The biopsy confirmed lung adenocarcinoma but caused complications, including pneumothorax and progressive dyspnea, without improving outcome. Her primary wish was to return home and limit hospital exposure, an expectation ultimately unmet. This case underlines the need to respect patient preferences, address cognitive biases like action bias, and reassess interventions through the lens of futility, particularly in geriatric oncology, where broader societal reflection and independent oversight are essential.