The opportunity cost of futile treatment in the ICU

The opportunity cost of futile treatment in the ICU. Critical Care Medicine, Sept 2014, Vol. 42(9), p.1977-82.

Huynh, T.N. et al.

http://journals.lww.com/ccmjournal/Abstract/2014/09000/The_Opportunity_Cost_of_Futile_Treatment_in_the.2.aspx

When used to prolong life without achieving a benefit meaningful to the patient, critical care is often considered “futile.” Although futile treatment is acknowledged as a misuse of resources by many, no study has evaluated its opportunity cost, that is, how it affects care for others. Our objective was to evaluate delays in care when futile treatment is provided.