title: When parents request seemingly futile treatment for their children.
abstract: This paper reviews the development of the concept of medical futility, particularly as it applies to pediatrics. It discusses the difference between technical considerations and value considerations in futility determinations, and then breaks down the concept of futility into four components - power, money, trust and hope.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago-General, MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, IL 60637, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lantos
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003657:Decision Making; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D018447:Medical Futility / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D040841:Resource Allocation; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000941:ethics*