Summary of opinions about moral consequences of futile measures (n=43)
| Year | Ref | (B1) Professionals: | (B2) Communication: | (B3) Responsibility: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a–f = slightly different statements in the same article. | ||||
| (B1) Health care professionals may, ought or should withhold or withdraw the measure. | ||||
| (B2) With or without communication (with the patient, the family or others) about the different options. | ||||
| (B3) Responsible for the decision to withhold or withdraw the measure (HCP = health care professionals). | ||||
| 1987 | 18 | should | No information | Health care professionals |
| 1988 | 11a | may | No information | Health care professionals |
| 1988 | b | should | No information | Health care professionals |
| 1988 | 13a | may | No information | Health care professionals |
| 1988 | b | – | Dialogue | Patient |
| 1989 | 6 | may | No information | Health care professionals |
| 1990 | 1 | may | No information | Health care professionals |
| 1990 | 14 | may | Dialogue | Health care professionals |
| 1991 | 19 | may | Dialogue | Patient, if not HCP |
| 1992 | 12 | may | No information | Health care professionals |
| 1992 | 19* | may | Dialogue | Health care professionals |
| 1992 | 46 | ought | Dialogue | Joint decision making/patient |
| 1992 | 47 | may | Dialogue | Appeal (ethics comm.) |
| 1993 | 23 | may | No information | Appeal (joint bodies) |
| 1993 | 30 | should | – | Health care professionals |
| 1993 | 32 | – | Dialogue | Health care professionals |
| 1993 | 22a | should | Information | Health care professionals |
| 1993 | b | may | Dialogue | Patient/family |
| 1994 | 24 | – | – | – |
| 1994 | 25 | may | Dialogue | Patient/family |
| 1994 | 34 | – | Dialogue | Patient/family |
| 1994 | 9 | – | – | Appeal |
| 1995 | 17 | may | – | Health care professionals |
| 1995 | 21 | may | Dialogue | Patient/family |
| 1995 | 2 | should | Information | Health care professionals |
| 1995 | 3 | – | Dialogue | Advance directive |
| 1995 | 15 | – | No information | Health care professionals |
| 1995 | 26 | should not | Dialogue | Patient/family |
| 1995 | 37a | should | Dialogue | Patient/family |
| 1995 | b | ought | Dialogue | – |
| 1995 | c | should | Dialogue | – |
| 1995 | d | may | Dialogue | – |
| 1995 | e | ought | Dialogue | – |
| 1995 | f | should | Dialogue | – |
| 1995 | 28 | may | Information | Appeal |
| 1996 | 4 | may | Dialogue | Patient/family |
| 1996 | 27 | – | Dialogue | Health care professionals |
| 1996 | 31 | should | Dialogue | Patient/family |
| 1996 | 33 | ought | – | Advance directive |
| 1997 | 39 | – | Dialogue | Joint |
| 1997 | 5 | may | Dialogue | Joint, if not appeal (ethics comm.) |
| 1997 | 35 | – | Dialogue | – |
| 1997 | 36 | – | Dialogue | Health care professionals |
| 1997 | 38 | – | Dialogue | Joint |
| 1997 | 10 | may | Dialogue | Joint, if not HCP |
| 1997 | 40 | may | – | Joint |
| 1998 | 43a | should not | No information | Health care professionals (UK) |
| 1998 | b | should not | Dialogue | Patient (US) |
| 1998 | 29 | should | – | – |
| 1998 | 45 | – | Dialogue | Health care professionals |
| 1999 | 44 | may | – | Patient/advance directive, if not HCP |
| 1999 | 42 | – | Dialogue | – |
| 2000 | 41 | may or should | Dialogue | Joint |