RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Meaningful futility: requests for resuscitation against medical recommendation JF Journal of Medical Ethics JO J Med Ethics FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics SP medethics-2020-106232 DO 10.1136/medethics-2020-106232 A1 Lucas Vivas A1 Travis Carpenter YR 2020 UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/early/2020/05/19/medethics-2020-106232.abstract AB ‘Futility’ is a contentious term that has eluded clear definition, with proposed descriptions either too strict or too vague to encompass the many facets of medical care. Requests for futile care are often surrogates for requests of a more existential character, covering the whole range of personal, emotional, cultural and spiritual needs. Physicians and other practitioners can use requests for futile care as a valuable opportunity to connect with their patients at a deeper level than the mere biomedical diagnosis. Current debate around Canada’s changing regulatory and legal framework highlights challenges in appropriately balancing the benefits and burdens created by requests for futile care.