Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Sep 2014
Editorial CommentIt's Not "Do" but "Why Do" Rapid Response Systems Work?*.
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When used to prolong life without achieving a benefit meaningful to the patient, critical care is often considered "futile." Although futile treatment is acknowledged as a misuse of resources by many, no study has evaluated its opportunity cost, that is, how it affects care for others. Our objective was to evaluate delays in care when futile treatment is provided. ⋯ Futile critical care was associated with delays in care to other patients.