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Related Experiment Videos

Is futility a futile concept?

B A Brody1, A Halevy

  • 1Center for Ethics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.

The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy
|April 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

This study identifies four types of medical futility and proposes five criteria for defining it. Current definitions fail to meet these criteria due to insufficient attention to supporting data.

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Area of Science:

  • Medical Ethics
  • Healthcare Policy

Background:

  • Medical futility is a complex issue in patient care.
  • Existing definitions of futility lack consensus and clear criteria.
  • Futility definitions influence decisions about limiting care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To distinguish major types of medical futility.
  • To propose criteria for evaluating definitions of futility.
  • To assess existing futility definitions against proposed criteria.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review to identify types of futility.
  • Development of five criteria for futility definitions: precision, prospective, social acceptability, significant number, and non-agreement.
  • Critical analysis of advocated futility definitions based on these criteria.
Keywords:
American College of PhysiciansAmerican Heart AssociationAmerican Medical AssociationAmerican Thoracic SocietyAnalytical ApproachDeath and EuthanasiaSociety of Critical Care Medicine

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Main Results:

  • Four major types of futility identified: physiological, imminent demise, lethal condition, and qualitative.
  • Five key criteria proposed for robust futility definitions.
  • Existing definitions were found to be inadequate as they do not meet the proposed criteria.

Conclusions:

  • Current definitions of medical futility are insufficient for unilaterally limiting care.
  • Proponents of futility definitions have overlooked the quality of supporting data.
  • Further refinement of futility definitions is needed, focusing on data integrity and ethical considerations.