[Who is to define the futility of treatment--the patient or the physician?].
The definition of medical futility has two important components; the probability and the desirability of reaching a particular goal by medical intervention. Futility embodies a normative component. In this paper it is argued that physicians must recognise the inherent value of their medical recommendations, as well as recognise the patient's goal when a particular intervention is requested. This open physician-patient dialogue is vital when dealing with such a difficult subject. Sometimes the patient's hopes may be unrealistic. The physician has a professional duty to set certain limits to the services any physician can offer at the request of a patient. This duty is independent of resource considerations.
Legeforeningens forskningsinstitutt, Oslo.
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D003657:Decision Making; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D018447:Medical Futility; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations