Therapeutic futility as an ethical issue: intensive care unit nurses

Authors

  • Karen Knopp de Carvalho Fundação Universidade do Rio Grande; Hospital Universitário Dr. Miguel Riet Corrêa Jr
  • Valéria Lerch Lunardi Fundação Universidade do Rio Grande; Hospital Universitário Dr. Miguel Riet Corrêa Jr

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692009000300005

Keywords:

therapeutics, health, death, ethics, nursing

Abstract

Therapeutic futility in intensive care units (ICUs) is still little discussed among nursing professionals responsible for implementing prescribed procedures, which they might disagree on. Therefore, interviews were carried out with ICU nurses to understand how they are coping with the implementation of futile treatments. Based on the analysis of collected data, the following categories emerged: Therapeutic futility: what is it?; Therapeutic futility extends suffering; Therapeutic futility with healing as a priority; Coping with therapeutic futility: humanized care? The study indicates the need to evaluate therapeutic measures provided to terminal patients with a view to improving their quality of life in this final phase. When healing is no longer possible, care is necessary with a view to respecting the sick person's integrity because care is the essence of the nursing profession.

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Published

2009-06-01

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 3 (2009)

Section

Original Articles

License

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Including names of authors whose contribution does not fit into the above criteria cannot be justified. Those names can be included in the Acknowledgements section.
 Authors are fully responsible for the concepts disseminated in their manuscripts, which do not necessarily reflect the editors’ and editorial board’s opinion.

 

How to Cite

Carvalho, K. K. de, & Lunardi, V. L. (2009). Therapeutic futility as an ethical issue: intensive care unit nurses. Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem, 17(3), 308-313. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692009000300005