Futile medical care
Futile Medical Care
Futile medical care (pronunciation: fyoo-tl med-i-kuhl kair) is a term used in the medical ethics field to describe interventions that are unlikely to produce any significant benefit for the patient.
Etymology
The term "futile" comes from the Latin word "futtilis", meaning "leaky, vain". In the context of medical care, it refers to treatments that are considered ineffective or pointless.
Definition
Futile medical care is often defined as a medical intervention that is unlikely to produce any significant benefit for the patient. This can include treatments that are unlikely to prolong life, improve the patient's quality of life, or cure or manage a disease or condition.
Related Terms
- Medical futility: A broader term that encompasses not only futile medical care, but also treatments that are considered ineffective or inappropriate for other reasons.
- Quality of life: A term used to assess the general well-being of individuals and societies. It is often used in discussions about futile medical care to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of a particular treatment.
- Palliative care: A type of care that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients. It is often considered as an alternative to futile medical care.
- Do not resuscitate: An order to withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), in respect of the wishes of a patient in case their heart were to stop or they were to stop breathing. This is often discussed in the context of futile medical care.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Futile medical care
- Wikipedia's article - Futile medical care
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