The Brutal but Utile Truth of "Futile". Perspect Biol Med 2018;60(3):340-344
Date
01/30/2018Pubmed ID
29375063DOI
10.1353/pbm.2018.0007Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85041042202 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 3 CitationsAbstract
Though futility may be difficult to consensually define as a description of the limits of medicine, the term futility as it applies to quantitative futility is useful and apt. The term conveys a sometimes harsh but truthful reality for patients and families. When talking with patients and families, conveying the concept of futility might be more compassionately expressed as an inability to provide a curative medical benefit to the patient, with a concomitant commitment to provide comfort care. The ultimate arbiter of quantitative futility should be the medical profession.
Author List
Derse ARAuthor
Arthur R. Derse MD, JD Director, Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
HumansMedical Futility
Palliative Care
