Question

which situation best defines medical futility? *
1 point
a patient refuses treatment due to pain
a treatment offers comfort but no cure
a treatment has no reasonable chance of achieving its goal
a family requests continued care

a patient with metastatic lung cancer is receiving treatment to ease pain * 1 point
and symptoms to keep them comfortable since the cancer cannot be cured,
and life expectancy is about 6 months or less
determine the most appropriate type of care:

curative care
palliative care
hospice care
life-sustaining treatment

Explanation:

First Question (Medical Futility)

Medical futility is defined as a treatment lacking a reasonable chance to achieve its intended goal. Option A is patient refusal (not futility), Option B is palliative care (not futile, as it has a goal of comfort), Option D is family requesting care (not related to futility). Only Option C matches the definition.

Hospice care is for patients with terminal illnesses (like metastatic lung cancer with <6 months life expectancy) focusing on comfort, symptom management, and quality of life when cure is not possible. Curative care aims to cure (not applicable here), palliative care can be part of hospice but hospice is specific to terminal patients with short life expectancy, and life - sustaining treatment is for prolonging life (not the focus here).

Answer:

C. A treatment has no reasonable chance of achieving its goal

Second Question (Type of Care)