Abstract
After reviewing intensive and life supportive care for patients in whom it was probably inappropriate, the hospital bioethics committee established a futile care policy. The issues we encountered in the first 3 years since the policy became effective should be instructive for other hospitals, physicians, and families.
Full text
PDFSelected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Gregory D. R., Cotler M. P. The problem of futility: III. The importance of physician-patient communication and a suggested guide through the minefield. Camb Q Healthc Ethics. 1994 Spring;3(2):257–269. doi: 10.1017/s0963180100004989. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kapp M. B. Futile medical treatment: a review of the ethical arguments and legal holdings. J Gen Intern Med. 1994 Mar;9(3):170–177. doi: 10.1007/BF02600037. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lantos J. D. Futility assessments and the doctor-patient relationship. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1994 Aug;42(8):868–870. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1994.tb06560.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Loewy E. H., Carlson R. A. Futility and its wider implications. A concept in need of further examination. Arch Intern Med. 1993 Feb 22;153(4):429–431. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lundberg G. D. American health care system management objectives. The aura of inevitability becomes incarnate. JAMA. 1993 May 19;269(19):2554–2555. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Morreim E. H. Profoundly diminished life. The casualties of coercion. Hastings Cent Rep. 1994 Jan-Feb;24(1):33–42. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nelson J. L. Families and futility. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1994 Aug;42(8):879–882. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1994.tb06563.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Schneiderman L. J., Jecker N. S., Jonsen A. R. Medical futility: its meaning and ethical implications. Ann Intern Med. 1990 Jun 15;112(12):949–954. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-112-12-949. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tomlinson T., Czlonka D. Futility and hospital policy. Hastings Cent Rep. 1995 May-Jun;25(3):28–35. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]