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KMID : 1172020220230010071
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Journal of Korean Bioethics Association
2022 Volume.23 No. 1 p.71 ~ p.81
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Considerations and Practical Implications regarding Ethical Standards for Medical Futility
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Jo Eun-Jin
Kim Sang-Hee
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Abstract
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Currently, our medical field has developed medical knowledge and technology to prolong the life of patients, but it has limitations that are seen as conflicts for life-determination between healthcare providers and patients/surrogate. In this regard, there are differences in views on life extension between healthcare providers and patients/surrogate, and the concept of medical futility is often used to justify each other without narrowing. Medical futility means that medical treatment available to patients will no longer improve the patient's medical situation and that medically proposed treatment should not be performed, but medical futility is still ethically controversial because it is judged by differences in their positions. It is difficult to agree on medical futility in various medical situations, and there is often a serious discrepancy between healthcare providers, patients, and patient families about the benefits of continuous treatment to patients. However, rather than sticking to a sharp confrontation from their respective positions on medical futility, medical futility needs to move toward a strategy that optimizes decision-making between healthcare providers and patients/surrogate. In this paper, the definition and issues of medical futility up to now are discussed, and ethical criteria for medical futility are considered and discussed for a practical approach in the medical field.
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KEYWORD
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medical futility, ethics, decision making, practice
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