Futility in medical treatment

Dublin Core

Title

Futility in medical treatment

Author

Albar, M.A.
Chamsi-Pasha, H.

Publisher

2018/01/00

Language

English

Publication Date

20180100

Abstract

Medical and technological resources allow many patients affected by advanced diseases to receive more aggressive and expensive treatments than ever before. This wide range of available options can frequently lead to complex end-of-life decisions, such as when to start palliative care programs. Medical futility refers to interventions that are unlikely to produce any significant benefit for the patient. Medical futility is a daily problem, with significant ethical implications and concerns about the respect of the main ethics principles: beneficence, non-maleficence, patient’s autonomy, and justice. Proceeding with futile treatment is neither in the best interests of the patient nor of the healthcare system. This paper examines the definition of futility, applications of the concept of medical futility, the complexities of management when care is considered futile.

Primary Classification

20.5.1

Secondary Classification

20.5.1;1.2

Primary keywords

futility--[pri];withholding treatment--[pri]

Secondary keywords

case studies;critically ill;decision making;Islamic ethics;medical ethics;Muslims

Journal Article

International Journal of Human and Health Sciences2018 January; 2(1):13-17

Note

Copyright (c) 2018 International Journal of Human and Health Sciences (IJHHS). Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Call Number

citation

Bibliography

24 refs

ISSN

2523692X (online)

Collection

IMSE Database

Citation

“Futility in medical treatment,” Islamic Medical & Scientific Ethics, accessed January 18, 2025, https://imse.ibp.georgetown.domains/items/show/37900.