What does the term "medical futility" mean?

The term "medical futility" refers to interventions that are unlikely to produce any significant benefit for the patient. This concept is often discussed in the context of end-of-life care or when a patient's condition is terminal or severely compromised. When considering treatment options, healthcare professionals assess the likelihood of achieving the desired outcome; if treatments do not provide reasonable hope of improvement or preservation of quality of life, they may be deemed futile. This principle promotes the ethical obligation to avoid administering treatments that are not beneficial, ensuring that resources are used judiciously and that patient suffering is minimized.

Understanding medical futility helps shape conversations around care, allowing healthcare providers, patients, and families to focus on comfort, palliative measures, or alternative decision-making that aligns with the best interests of the patient.