E806 CMAJ| JUNE 12, 2017| VOLUME 189| ISSUE 23 respect to those whose probability is
clearly zero. Therefore, any reference to futility other than true physiologic futility is not really …

The notion of medical futility has quantitative and qualitative roots that offer a practical
approach to its definition and application. Applying these traditions to contemporary medical …

The thesis I want to set forth in this commentary is as follows: The term futility is in a parlous
state suffering from vagueness in definition, clinically unpleasant connotations, and intense …

Absolute futility means that the treatment would be completely ineffective physiologically.
Most people would agree on this definition and how seldom it applies. An example is a …

It is well established that the concept of medical futility is often considered a justification for
unilateral decisions by physicians (and other healthcare providers) 1 to withhold or withdraw …

The debate about futility in healthcare began long before the term" medical futility" was in
circulation. It is a debate about when medical interventions can or should be withheld or …

Howard Brody expresses concern that citing the “two cases that put futility on the map,”
namely Helga Wanglie and Baby K, may be providing ammunition to the opponents of the …

In his essay “The Futility Debate and the Management of Gordian Knots,” Bruce Zawacki
provides an enlightened road map for finding our way out of the conceptual morass that this …

Among those who criticize the concept of 'medical futility,'a common refrain is that we really
have no idea what futility means. For example, physicians seem to disagree on whether a …

It is becoming increasingly common (at least in the United States) for doctors to appeal to
futility judgments as the basis for certain types of clinical decisions, such as the decision to …