RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Why the term ‘persistent therapy’ is not worse than the term ‘medical futility’
JF Journal of Medical Ethics
JO J Med Ethics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics
SP 350
OP 352
DO 10.1136/medethics-2021-107609
VO 48
IS 5
A1 Ferdynus, Marcin Paweł
YR 2022
UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/48/5/350.abstract
AB The discussion around the use of the term ‘medical futility’ began in the late 1980s. The Polish Working Group on End-of-Life Ethics (PWG) joined this discussion in 2008. They offered their own approach to the issues regarding medical futility based on the category of persistent therapy. According to the PWG, ‘persistent therapy is the use of medical procedures to maintain the life function of the terminally ill in a way that prolongs their dying, introducing excessive suffering or violating their dignity’. In this paper I attempt to show that the term ‘persistent therapy’ is neither worse nor better than the term ‘medical futility’, but it captures different aspects and nuances. Additionally, the Polish social and religious background plays a significant role in shaping the category of persistent therapy.