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The lancet oncology · Oct 2002
ReviewBeyond futility: to what extent is the concept of futility useful in clinical decision-making about CPR?
- Suzanne Kite and Stephen Wilkinson.
- Palliative Medicine at the Leeds General Infirmary and Cookridge Hospitals, Yorkshire, Leeds, UK. suzanne.kite@leedsth.nhs.uk
- Lancet Oncol. 2002 Oct 1; 3 (10): 638-42.
AbstractThe concept of futility has often been invoked to justify abstention from treatment and decisions such as 'do not attempt resuscitation' (DNAR). In this capacity, futility has played an important part in the development of several sets of official clinical guidelines. In this paper, we examine the nature of futility and question whether it is a sufficiently robust concept to meet the ethical and clinical demands placed upon it. Although the concept of futility promises simplicity, it cannot stand alone as a satisfactory framework for clinical decision-making. Practitioners and policy makers should be cautious about their use of the concept.
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