Resolving Family-Clinician Disputes in the Context of Contested Definitions of Futility

The word futile has been a touchstone in debates regarding resolution of disputes regarding life-prolonging treatments since the 1980s. Here, we respond to several criticisms of the Multiorganization Policy Statement, “An Official ATS/AACN/ACCP/ESICM/SCCM Policy Statement: Responding to Requests for Potentially Inappropriate Treatments in Intensive Care Units” (Bosslet et al. 2015). This response highlights the need for a strict definition of the word futile in order to avoid undue treatment differences when end-of-life interventions are contested. We also reply to several criticisms of this policy statement that are formulated upon fundamental misunderstandings of the statement and its assertions.