Judging who should live: Schneiderman and Jecker on the duty not to treat

Journal/Book: J Med Phil. 1998; 23: P O Box 825, 2160 Sz Lisse, Netherlands. Swets Zeitlinger Publishers. 500-515.

Abstract: In this paper, I consider the thesis advanced by Lawrence J. Schneiderman and Nancy S. Jecker that physicians should be forbidden from offering futile treatments to patients. I distinguish between a version of this thesis that is trivially true and Schneiderman and Jecker's more substantive version of the thesis. I find that their positive arguments for their thesis are unsuccessful, and sometimes quite misleading. I advance an argument against their thesis, and find that, on balance, their thesis should be rejected. I briefly argue that a resolution of the debate about medical futility will require addressing deeper issues about value.

Note: Article Harper W, Univ Alabama, Tuscaloosa,AL 35487 USA

Keyword(s): medical benefit; medical futility; patient autonomy; quantitative futility; qualitative futility; MEDICAL FUTILITY

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