How do decisions change if we can assess risk of “unacceptable badness”?
The concept of medical futility has been debated for many years, but a precise definition remains elusive.1-3 This is not surprising given the evolving nature of modern medicine. Progressively more complex decisions are required when considering increasingly sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Providing a simple definition as to when treatment should be withheld or withdrawn may be unrealistic.
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