Futility: Definition and Goals

Schneiderman, Jecker, and Jonsen (2017) correctly take issue with a recent multi-society statement that attempts to replace most uses of the term futility with “inappropriate treatment.” However, they mistakenly categorize any treatment of permanent unconsciousness as futile. Futility can be readily defined as an intervention that will not work, and it is always an incomplete statement unless one specifies the goal one hopes to achieve.