title: Understanding medical futility: two Texas cases illustrate the dilemmas for families, hospitals--and nurses.
authors.forename: Gail M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
authors.forename: Maureen Shawn
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D024362:Advance Directive Adherence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001293:Attitude to Death; D003657:Decision Making; D034462:Dissent and Disputes / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018447:Medical Futility / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013781:Texas; D013796:Thanatophoric Dysplasia / Q000628:therapy