This book surveys the clinical, ethical, religious, legal, economic and personal dimensions of decision making in situations when the choice is between extending costly medical treatment of uncertain effectiveness, or terminating treatment thereby ending the patient's life. Contributors from a wide range of disciplines offer perspectives on issues ranging from the definition of medical futility to the implications for care in various clinical settings, including intensive care, neonatal and paediatric practice and nursing homes. An important contribution towards the more humane and consistent handling of these situations, Medical Futility will be obligatory reading for health care professionals, students and scholars concerned with ethical standards in medical care.

‘The conflict between patients’ automony and choice and professionals’ decision making is at the core of Medical Futility … It analyses care at the end of life in cultural, religious, and ethical contexts, as well as the economic consequences of providing treatments that are of little benefit at this, or indeed, any, time.’

Alex Paton Source: British Medical Journal

‘For those wishing for insight it will provide food for thought.’

Gina Agarwal Source: The Lancet

‘ … useful contribution to the public debate.’

Source: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine

‘The 25 contributors, 10 from disciplines other than medicine, address with authority a range of issues associated with the concept of medical futility in various clinical settings … The message of hope from this though-provoking book is that conflict can be avoided in most cases by good communication between doctor and patient and the exercise of common sense.’

Source: Neuroradiology 40

‘A valuable contribution to a subject of immense practical importance and warmly recommended.’

John Saunders Source: Journal of Medical Ethics

‘ … a compact treatment of a complex subject … a very accessible book, clearly written and easy to read … a good introduction … a good, basic introduction to an important topic in bioethics.’

Source: The New England Journal of Medicine