Medical Futility and Care of Dying Patients

Overview

Journal West J Med

Specialty General Medicine

Date 1995 Sep 1

PMID 7571593

Citations 3

Authors

N S Jecker

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In this article, I address ethical concerns related to forgoing futile medical treatment in terminally ill and dying patients. Any discussion of medical futility should emphasize that health professionals and health care institutions have ethical responsibilities regarding medical futility. Among the topics I address are communicating with patients and families, resolving possible conflicts, and developing professional standards. Finally, I explore why acknowledging the futility of life-prolonging medical interventions can be so difficult for patients, families, and health professionals.

Citing Articles

Perceptions of patients on the utility or futility of end-of-life treatment.

Rodriguez K, YOUNG A J Med Ethics. 2006; 32(8):444-9.

PMID: 16877622 PMC: 2563385. DOI: 10.1136/jme.2005.014118.

Would you be surprised if this patient died?: Preliminary exploration of first and second year residents' approach to care decisions in critically ill patients.

Johnson D, Kutner J, Armstrong 2nd J BMC Palliat Care. 2003; 2(1):1.

PMID: 12529181 PMC: 149224. DOI: 10.1186/1472-684x-2-1.

Frustrated mastery. The cultural context of death in America.

Callahan D West J Med. 1995; 163(3):226-30.

PMID: 7571584 PMC: 1303043.

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