When all's futile

Medicine | Utilitarian medical ethics, high costs, and bio-babble all drive controversial health-care decisions in the post-Schiavo era | Lynn Vincent

On April 21, a British judge rejected the pleas of Darren and Debbie Wyatt who had fought to keep their 18-month-old daughter Charlotte alive. Doctors say Charlotte, born three months premature, is brain-damaged, in continual pain, and likely terminal. Her parents say she can see and hear to a limited extent, and sometimes smiles. While London High Court Justice Mark Hedley agreed that the baby responds to loud noises and tracks the movement of a colorful toy, he upheld an order that would allow doctors to let Charlotte die if she stops breathing.

"I am quite clear that it would not be in Charlotte's best interests to die in the course of futile aggressive treatment," Justice Hedley said.

Welcome to the world of "medical futility," a term that is part real-world health care, part bioethical babble, and wholly at the root of some of the most controversial medical cases making headlines today.

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May 21, 2005, Vol. 20, No. 20

Senate wars over judges May. 14, 2005	John Bolton: Take cover! May. 7, 2005	Rick Santorum: Penn Station Apr. 30, 2005
The fewer and the proud Apr. 23, 2005	Who will be the next pope? Apr. 16, 2005	Terri Schiavo: In memoriam Apr. 9, 2005